In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley warns that with the advent of science, natural philosophical questions are not only useless, but dangerous. In an attempt to uncover the mysteries of life, Frankenstein assumes he can act like God. He disrupts the natural order and chaos ensues. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Mary Shelley goes to great lengths to emphasize the beauty and order of life when man engages in natural activities. It idealises Frankenstein's domestic life: I take exquisite pleasure in dwelling on childhood memories, before misfortune tainted my mind. His family is tidy and wonderful. Clerval's presence brought to mind my father, Elizabeth, and all those scenes of home so dear to my memory. I suddenly felt, and for the first time in many months, calm and peaceful. Shelley also emphasizes that man should feel one with nature, not at odds with it: When I was happy, inanimate nature had the power to give me the most delightful sensations. Certain occupations allow man to be one with nature and with his fellow men. Shelley believes that science should be useful and beneficial to humanity. Clerval, a clearly pure and benevolent character, studies languages. He loves poetry. These disciplines allow man to help others and glorify nature without questioning it. In childhood, Frankenstein's studies contained brilliant visions of usefulness: I devoted myself to mathematics and to the branches of study belonging to that science, since they were built on secure foundations and therefore worthy of consideration. But Frankenstein's interests soon drifted away from mathematics; he talks about his change of mind as if an evil spirit had taken control of his brain. He begins to thirst for higher knowledge, hoping to discover the deepest mysteries of nature: “I had observed the fortifications and impediments that seemed to prevent human beings from entering the citadel of nature, and I had recklessly and ignorantly complained. Frankenstein delves into these studies, hoping to reveal to the world the deepest mysteries of creation. Life and death seemed to me to be ideal boundaries, which I should first cross and pour a torrent of light into our dark world. Frankenstein manages to discover the secrets of life and death and becomes capable of animating lifeless matter. While Frankenstein is involved in this quest, Shelley paints his life as grotesque and unnatural; compared to his childhood he abandons everything that clearly made his life natural and good: the dissecting room and the slaughterhouse provided many of my materials; and often my human nature turned away from my occupation in disgust (53). Frankenstein cuts off contact with his family and no longer appreciates the glory of nature. He confines himself to a room, his occupation is unnatural: who can conceive the horrors of my secret toil as I delighted in the impure damps of the tomb and disturbed, with profane fingers, the tremendous secrets of the human structure (53). With these descriptions, Shelley tells the reader that Frankenstein treads on forbidden ground, he does not uncover secrets, but disturbs them. When Frankenstein completes his creation, he finally realizes the horror of what he has done. He immediately understood that his aspiration to create a new species that would bless me as its creator and source was far from being realized. Instead, the beauty of the dream faded and breathless horror and disgust filled his heart (56). His actions, done in isolation, did nothing to improve mankind, being so far fromhuman nature. He realizes the full horror of what he did in his dream, which foreshadows the chaos and destruction to come. He sees how horrible it is to meddle in superhuman affairs and attempt to alter natural processes. In his dream, he sees his beloved Elizabeth, and kisses her. But to his horror, she transforms into her dead mother, a shroud wrapped her body, and I saw worms crawling in the folds of the flannel (57). With this image, Shelley illustrates the wickedness of man who tries to venture into God's domain. Frankenstein manages to create life, but this creation brings nothing but death and destruction. He desecrates his mother's death and turns a vibrant life into a decadent nothingness. His attempts to change the natural boundaries of life can only lead to chaos. As a mortal, he cannot do what God does. He can create life, but he cannot create order. Man who goes out of his natural place can only cause disorder. Shelley also portrays Frankenstein as a perverted God through references to Adam and Eve. The monster laments that he was created by such an imperfect God. He says: How dare you have such fun with life? I should be your Adam (97). Frankenstein, however, is not God. The monster eventually realizes this and rebukes Frankenstein: Like Adam, I was apparently united by no bond with any other being in existence; but his state was very different from mine in every other respect. He had emerged from the hands of God as a perfect, happy and prosperous creature, guarded by the special care of his Creator; he was allowed to converse and acquire knowledge from beings of a higher nature: but I was miserable, helpless and alone (126). Frankenstein is no better than his monster, being governed by the same human passions. He is not a superior being and cannot support the creation of a new species. The humility that Frankenstein should have before his own creator is demonstrated through Shelley's powerful descriptions of nature. Frankenstein feels small before the roar of the waterfalls around, which spoke of a power as powerful as Omnipotence (91). Never truly able to penetrate these secrets of the pine forests and the bare, jagged ravine, the eagle, soaring among the clouds, all gathered around me and bade me be at peace (93). He also notices the perfection with which his creator formed humans and marvels at Clerval's qualities. His mind, so full of ideas whose existence depended on the life of its creator, perished. No, it's not like that; your form so divinely forged has decayed, but your spirit continues to visit and console your unhappy friend.” With this statement, Frankenstein realizes that life and death are not really ideal boundaries. There is much more to life and death than humans can conceive. Biology is not necessarily the answer to the secrets of life and death. Therefore, human beings should live within their limits and not struggle with forces that are beyond their reach. Frankenstein regrets his foray into natural philosophy. He longs for the carefree happiness of childhood (92), when man did not seek to know these secrets. He laments: Alas! Why does man boast of sensibilities superior to those evident in the beast? it only makes them more necessary beings. If our impulses were limited to hunger, thirst and desire we could be almost free (94). Shelley compares man's struggle with higher questions to Adam eating from the tree of knowledge. Frankenstein wanted to stop the destruction, but the apple was already eaten (183). But man's knowledge is never as perfect as God's knowledge. His presumption of knowing the secrets of life made him similar to the archangel who aspired to omnipotence... chained in an eternal hell.