<em>Frankenstein</em>: The Portrayal of Science Educational Resources K12 Learning, Literary Studies, Reading Lesson Plans, Activities, Experiments, Homeschool Help

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

In his 1974 book Today and Tomorrow, famous science fiction author Isaac Asimov wrote the following.

"The dangers that face the world can, every one of them, be traced back to science. The salvations that may save the world will, every one of them, be traced back to science. "

How can this seemingly contradictory idea be true?

Write down an explanation of this quotation in your own words.

Asimov's quote introduces the dual nature of scientific discovery.

On the one hand, scientists have been responsible for developing dangerous toxins and weapons of mass destruction. On the other hand, scientists are responsible for finding cures for diseases and creating inexpensive methods to purify drinking water.

Eighteenth and nineteenth-century Europe was fascinated with scientific exploration and experimentation, which influenced Mary Shelley's tale.

The beginning of Victor Frankenstein's tale focuses on his introduction to the world of science and his obsession with bestowing the spark of life upon his creation. His obsession would have resonated with many of Shelley's readers.

Read The Science of Life and Death in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein to learn more about the beliefs of the period.

While Shelley's portrayal of Victor's scientific pursuits may have resonated with her audience, she does not absolve him of wrongdoing. He throws himself into his experiments while thinking only of the possible glory, not the possible negative outcomes.

Continue to the Got It? section to explore further.