- Focus on the presence of a science that involves an invasive manipulation on our own humanity, our own identity
- Reading a story such as Frankenstein (which has been followed by numerous other fictions like it), we find a new fear of scientists, whom we have no control over, invading our privacy and transforming our bodies in ways that are unfavorable to us, one example being Jurassic Park
- Such actions have been considered forbidden areas, and as offensive to nature
- There is a looming ambivalence - we are afraid of what those mad scientists may be doing behind our backs, but at the same time, an elimination of all science would be counter-productive and diminishing of the "vast potential of genetic research" as Northam puts it
- It is clear that until the unveil of some true miracle such as a cure for cancer or for genetic mutation, this ambivalence will endure
- It's clear that Frankenstein has shaped our perspective and impression of scientists, but why is this?
- The cause is human nature
- Due to the moral standards embedded within us we find Victor rather than his creation to be the villain, as it seems as though he creates the monster for nothing more than self-glorification
- Furthermore, after carefully nurturing it to life, he completely disown it, leaving the creature helpless and without a companion, something Victor also takes away
- This, according to Northam, is one element that captures us, and perhaps leaves us to assume the same for all scientists alike
- We read how Frankenstein created something that he could not control, which later returns to kill all those close to Victor, and we assume that modern scientists, along with biological researchers may bome upon another "pandora's box" of sort, having power and destruction which no human can predict
No comments:
Post a Comment