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THE CONNECTION OF SCIENCE AND LITERATURE IN THE WORK OF FRANKENSTEIN
Khayrullayeva Nodira Nematillayevna
BukhSU, English linguistics department Khamrabaeva Shakhrizoda Azamatovna 3rd year student.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14224484 ABSTRACT
Received: 19 th November 2024 Accepted:20th November 2024 Published:26th November 2024
KEYWORDS science, ethics, Romanticism, ambition, humanity, nature, responsibility.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein merges science and literature, creating a profound narrative that reflects the scientific curiosity and ethical concerns of the early 19th century. Published in 1818, the novel tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, whose obsession with creating life highlights both the Romantic era's fascination with human potential and its caution against unchecked ambition. Inspired by real scientific figures and the era's natural philosophy, Victor's pursuit brings unforeseen tragic consequences, emphasizing the ethical responsibility that must accompany scientific exploration. Through the Creature's journey for acceptance and the disastrous outcomes of Victor's scientific hubris, Shelley questions the nature of humanity and the potential dangers of crossing natural boundaries. Rooted in Romantic ideals, the novel warns against overreaching nature's limits and stresses the need for ethical consideration in science, a message still resonant in today's debates on technology and morality.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a profound exploration of the intersection between science and literature, often recognized as one of the earliest and most influential works of science fiction. Published in 1818, Frankenstein is more than a gothic tale of horror; it reflects the scientific advancements of the early 19th century while raising philosophical and ethical questions that remain relevant. In creating Victor Frankenstein, Shelley introduces a character driven by an intense pursuit of knowledge, embodying the era's fascination with science, discovery, and the possibility of human mastery over nature. His scientific studies are inspired by alchemists and early natural philosophers, such as Paracelsus and Albertus Magnus, and by contemporary scientists like Luigi Galvani, whose experiments with electricity and muscle movement paved the way for bioelectricity. Victor's obsession with creating life—fueled by a desire to transcend natural limits—highlights the Romantic era's curiosity about life's origins, foreshadowing developments in modern genetics, biotechnology, and even cloning.
Shelley raises significant ethical questions surrounding the responsibility of scientists in their pursuit of knowledge. Victor's obsession leads him to bypass moral and social obligations, ignoring the potential consequences of his work. When he succeeds in animating the Creature, he is horrified by the result and abandons it, failing to take responsibility for the life he created. This abandonment sets off a chain of tragic events, reflecting the Romantic caution
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against unchecked scientific ambition pursued without ethical consideration. Shelley's portrayal of Victor's failures suggests that scientific achievement, if pursued without regard for human impact, can be destructive. This theme resonates strongly with contemporary debates on fields such as artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and robotics, where the power of science is often in tension with ethical responsibilities.
The novel also explores what it means to be human, particularly through the Creature's experience of rejection and isolation. Though a product of scientific creation, the Creature possesses emotions, learns language, and seeks companionship, displaying distinctly human desires. His journey for acceptance and understanding raises profound questions about identity and empathy, suggesting that life created through scientific means might also hold the same needs and rights as human beings. Shelley's sympathetic portrayal of the Creature's struggle for inclusion highlights how science and literature can address complex issues of belonging, identity, and human connection, pointing to the dangers of defining humanity solely by physical origins or appearances.[2]
Frankenstein also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific hubris and the limits of human power. Victor's ambition to "play God" and create life from inanimate matter reflects the dangers of overstepping natural boundaries. His inability to control his creation and the eventual destruction it causes underscore the limits of scientific knowledge and the need for ethical considerations. Shelley's warning against scientific arrogance, rooted in the Romantic distrust of industry and mechanization, is particularly relevant to modern debates on the responsibility of scientists to consider the broader societal implications of their work.[4]
At its heart, Frankenstein is also a work deeply rooted in the Romantic movement, which emphasized the power and mystery of the natural world. Shelley suggests that nature holds forces beyond human understanding and that the desire to control or surpass these forces can lead to ruin. Victor's failure serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting nature's boundaries and recognizing that science cannot explain or conquer everything. Shelley's admiration for the sublime beauty and power of nature, central to Romantic ideals, is evident in her descriptions of landscapes and weather, which mirror the emotional states and themes of the narrative.
References:
1. Butler, Marilyn. Frankenstein and Radical Science. 1993.
2. Mellor, Anne K. Mary Shelley: Her Life, Her Fiction, Her Monsters. 1988.
3. Cantor, Paul A. Creature and Creator: Myth-Making and English Romanticism. 1984.
4. Schneider, Steven Jay. Monsters of Our Own Making: The Peculiar Pleasures of Fear. 1999.
5. Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. 1818
6. Ruston, Sharon. Creating Life in the Laboratory: Science and Experiment in Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein". 2005.
7. Baldick, Chris. In Frankenstein's Shadow: Myth, Monstrosity, and Nineteenth-Century Writing. 1987.
8. Tindol, Robert. Frankenstein, Creation, and Monstrosity. 2015.
