The Theme Of Corruption In Frankenstein

The thesis is meant to explore the connotation of corruption in Frankenstein via an analysis of the two characters: Frankenstein and the Monster,and to enrich the interpretation of the theme of Frankenstein.The thesis first evaluates Frankenstein’s corruption in a biblical context,and argues that Frankenstein’s corruption can be first summarized as his usurpation of God’s role and power and then as his irresponsibility towards his creature.The thesis then situates the Monster’s corruption within a biblical and ethical context,and argues that the Monster’s corruption can be first summarized as his fall from “innocence” to “knowledge” and then as his choice of committing evils.Rousseau’s concepts of amour de soi and amour propre are employed to analyze the connotation of the Monster’s corruption.Chapter One points out that Frankenstein’s corruption is the origin of the Monster’s corruption.Frankenstein’s worship of reason and science makes his self-awareness expand,which brings about his abuse of his reason and his scientific knowledge.He usurps God’s role and power,and ends up creating a creature regarded as a monster.After his creation,Frankenstein fails to fulfill his responsibility towards the Monster,thereby violating the covenant spirit.The Monster’s choice of committing evils is rooted in Frankenstein’s corruption.Chapter Two notes the Monster’s fall from “innocence” to “knowledge.” The Monster changes from a natural man without self-awareness to a social man with self-awareness.The development of the Monster’s self-awareness foreshadows his conflict with society.Chapter Three argues that the Monster turns into an evil doer in society.Despite his knowledge of virtues and vices,the Monster finally forgoes his admiration for virtues,and chooses to commit evils.In the midst of his conflict with society,the Monster turns into a Satan-like figure and takes revenge on society.The Monster is the victim of Frankenstein’s corruption,and Frankenstein is also the victim of the Monster’s corruption.Given the social background of Mary Shelley’s creation of Frankenstein,the theme of corruption in Frankenstein is cautionary and prescient.The Monster’s corruption indicates that an artificial human-like creature with self-awareness has a tendency to commit evils in the midst of his conflict with society.Frankenstein’s corruption indicates that humanity should beware of recklessly employing reason and science,and that there are limits to the employment of reason and science,which should be within the boundaries of morality and ethics.