Examples of Ambition in “Frankenstein”

“Frankenstein” is one of those classic Gothic novels that really digs into human ambition and how it can create or destroy stuff. The story’s filled with characters whose big dreams push the story along, often leading to some pretty unexpected results. Let’s chat about how ambition shows up in “Frankenstein,” focusing on why the characters want knowledge, power, and a bit of fame, and what happens because of these dreams.

Chasing Knowledge

Victor Frankenstein, the main guy, is all about learning everything he can about nature and life.

Even when he was young, he got obsessed with books by folks like Agrippa and Paracelsus. This obsession eventually takes him to the University of Ingolstadt. There, he gets so wrapped up in understanding life that he ends up creating the Creature. Victor’s all about that Enlightenment vibe, where people were super into discovering new things. But Mary Shelley, the author, throws in a warning about going too far. Victor gets so caught up in his experiments that he forgets to think about if what he’s doing is right or wrong. He even says, “Learn from me… how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world” (Shelley, 1818, p. 31). Pretty deep stuff, right?

Wanting Power

Then there’s the Creature, Victor’s creation. At first, he just wants friends and to fit in. But after people keep treating him badly, he starts wanting power and revenge. He even demands that Victor make him a lady companion. This shows how his ambitions change from just wanting to be nice to wanting control over his creator. He gets pretty deep too, saying, “I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind?” (Shelley, 1818, p. 104). It’s a classic case of how being lonely and hurt can mess with your head and change what you aim for in life.

Craving Fame

Victor’s not just after knowledge; he wants people to remember him and think he’s awesome. When he first makes the Creature, he dreams of being famous and respected. He imagines everyone praising him for his work. He even fantasizes, “A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me” (Shelley, 1818, p. 34). So, he’s chasing fame and acknowledgment too. This shows how personal goals and what society expects can get all mixed up.

What Happens Next

Both Victor and the Creature’s big dreams don’t end well. Victor’s creation leads to a lot of bad stuff, like the deaths of people he loves and his own mental breakdown. The Creature’s quest for power and revenge leaves him all alone, wandering the Arctic. Shelley’s story hints that while ambition can push us forward, it can also cause a lot of pain and destruction if we don’t think about the ethical side of things.

Wrapping It Up

In the end, “Frankenstein” dives into different sides of ambition through the characters’ quests for knowledge, power, and fame. Shelley’s novel is a timeless reminder about the risks of unchecked ambition and stresses the need to balance goals with ethical responsibility. Victor’s sad story shows us how the drive for greatness can lead to disaster if we ignore the bigger picture. Through its layered and complex take on ambition, “Frankenstein” continues to be a powerful and relevant look at what it means to be human.

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