Human Cloning Debate The Fate of Frankenstein - 1671 Words

Background When Frankenstein was adapted for stage in 1823 the productions title was Presumption; or, The Fate of Frankenstein. A Victorian audience was concerned with the theme of a mans ambition to replace God by creating a new species. Equal emphasis was placed on this aspect of the novel in the 1831 introduction of Frankenstein, It is Mary Shellys critique of where such highly abstracted creative powers can lead when put in a realizing scientific context and then driven along by lofty ambition and high destiny (Shelley, 2004, 204) that we see in the pages of Frankenstein The novel was controversial in that it went against the traditional religious ideas of the time; Victorian morality held that God was the Almighty Creator. However, modern readers, with less restricted moral boundaries to those of the Victorians, likely see Victors main crime within the novel more the perverse way in which the creation is carried out and more importantly Victors failure to nurture the offspring; his crime is against the traditional framework of the family (Feldman and Scott-Kilvert, 1987). Position Statement- At the very essence of the Frankenstein myth is the idea that humans have the technology and wisdom to create or duplicate life. This idea, cloning, is neither new, nor mysterious it is simply the biological process of producing replicas of organisms through other means than sexual reproduction. In the United States, consumption of meat and other products derived fromShow MoreRelatedHuman and Important Cautionary Guide Essay1078 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction to Frankenstein Mary Shelley The ethical debate concerning biotechnological exploration into genetic cloning has created a monster in itself. A multitude of ethical questions arises when considering the effect of creating a genetically engineered human being. Does man or science have the right to create life through unnatural means? Should morality dictate these technological advancements and their effects on society? The questions and concerns are infinite, but so to are the curiositiesRead MoreA Caveat to the Pursuit of Knowledge1000 Words   |  4 Pagesknowledge†. In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley explores that when man seeks to answer unanswerable questions, he usurps God and risks acquiring forbidden knowledge, thus creating a situation he cannot fix. People should not pursue knowledge recklessly, oblivious to potential dangers and indications that they should be cautious. Sometimes, even, one must listen to the signs that one should stop exploring all together. Even when â€Å"the words of fate--enounced to destroy [Frankenstein],† he continuesRead More Science, Technology, and Morality as Perceived in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein1967 Words   |  8 Pages   Ã‚   In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley challenges the motives and ethical uncertainties of the scientific developments of her time. This critique has become increasingly relevant as modern scientists endeavor into previously unimagined realms of the natural world through the use of cloning and genetic engineering. Through careful analysis, we can see how the novel illustrates both the potential dangers of these exploits and the irony of the conflicts between science and creationism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   PriorRead MoreFrankenstein Study Guide14107 Words   |  57 PagesTHE GLENCOE LITERATURE LIBRARY Study Guide for Frankenstein by Mary Shelley i To the Teachern The Glencoe Literature Library presents full-length novels and plays bound together with shorter selections of various genres that relate by theme or topic to the main reading. Each work in the Library has a two-part Study Guide that contains a variety of resources for both you and your students. Use the Guide to plan your instruction of the work and enrich your classroom presentations. InRead More Science: Friend or Foe? Essays2049 Words   |  9 Pagesfair throughout his many assessments, pointing out that scientists have done little to thwart this ongoing belief system (242). In fact, people of science are often perceived as having lost their humanistic tendencies. Mary Shelleys Frankenstein is a perfect example of a scientists desire to succeed outweighing his moral conscience (232). This feeds into the fear that scientists do not view individuals as people, but rather subjects. When a scientist is not viewed as a humanisticRead MoreMetamorphoses Within Frankenstein14861 Words   |  60 PagesThe Critical Metamorphoses of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein You must excuse a trif ling d eviation, From Mrs. Shelley’s marvellous narration — from th e musical Frankenstein; or, The Vamp ire’s Victim (1849) Like Coleridge’ s Ancient Mariner , who erupts into Mary Sh elley’s text as o ccasionally and inev itably as th e Monster into Victor Frankenstein’s lif e, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometh eus passes, like night, from land to land and w ith stang ely ad aptable powers of speech