The Modern Prometheus - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1242 Downloads: 9 Date added: 2019/04/12 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: Frankenstein Essay Did you like this example? Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus, has long been considered one of the first and greatest gothic novels of all time. First published in 1818 when the author, Mary W. Shelley was just 20 years old, the novel follows the journey of Robert Walton as he seeks to discover a new passage through the Arctic Ocean. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Modern Prometheus" essay for you Create order Along the way he encounters a man, Dr. Victor Frankenstein, who recounts his tale of his own journey to push the boundaries of scientific discovery and the tragedy that ensued. The novel tackles the issue of unbridled scientific discovery and advancement leading to the destruction of civilization, however underlying themes also arise pertaining to religion and Greek mythology. BODY 2 The novels themes center on the social and cultural aspects of society during Shelleys lifetime, including the movement away from the intellectually confining Enlightenment. Writers of the Romantic period were concerned with nature, compassion, and heroes, but they also were rebelling against technology, commercialization, and loss of humanity. The characters in the novel reflect the struggles members of society were facing at the time. Part of the romantic reaction against Enlightenment rationalism, which began with Rousseau (see Chapter 17), Shelleys novel presented Frankenstein as a man driven by obsessive intellectual curiosity and the monster as a tragic symbol of science out of control. Written in the optimistic dawn of the industrialized age, when humanity seemed on the verge of taming the natural world, Shelleys Frankenstein is one of the earliest warnings that scientific research divorced from morality is an open invitation to personal and social disaster (Matthews, Platt, and Noble 481). The monster is portrayed as an outcast from society, and the reader can empathize with his subsequent rage at being ostracized. Nature and science, opposing forces during this period, are important themes shaping the novel. Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley, is one of the most iconic tales of 19th century literature. Grandly displaying a mastery of psychological depth within the characters, the author portrays a flawed society inherent within their scientific progression. As such, the enriching tale draws many criticisms from the society in which Shelley lived in, some of which encompasses appearances, feminism, and class restrictions. Retold through multiple mediums, the story is generally seen as a tale of the dangers of scientific progression to such an extremity that it illustrates faults in the upbringing of its citizens. Although, there is more to the story than a criticism of science being a dangerous endeavor with harsh complications, the characters show faults in their psyche from being ill-treated by civilization. The creatures symbolism emphasizes a defect in a hypocritical society and its discontents. Thus, the creature reveals societys flaw in supporting a superficial image of the world. Victor represents the tendency of science to divorce itself from ethics. As a scientist, Victor does not consider the consequences of his research, and he does not take responsibility for what happens as a result. What is more, this lapse in Victors judgment arises in part from his absence from home, both literally and figuratively: In order to do his work, he must cut himself off from other human beings. The story begins with an ambitious mans journey to the North Pole, but he is facing many perils on his way and faces many ethical issues blurring the line between morals and science. Meeting with Dr. Frankenstein, the captain is told the long, life story of a man who cannot see the line between ethics and science, and showing complete remorse over his creation, the unnamed creature. Frankenstein forewarns him, You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I Shelley is also commenting on human prejudice, especially concerning appearance. the story is generally seen as a tale of the dangers of scientific progression to such an extremity that it illustrates faults in the upbringing of its citizens. Although, there is more to the story than a criticism of science being a dangerous endeavor with harsh complications, the characters show faults in their psyche from being ill-treated by civilization. The creatures symbolism emphasizes a defect in a hypocritical society and its dis contents. Thus, the creature reveals societys flaw in supporting a superficial image of the world. BODY 3 The novel also explores the boundary between life and death, and the potential dangers human arrogance might arouse when trying to play God. Frankenstein contains a great amount of biblical symbolism, particularly the theme of the outcast and the story of creation. The creature is bitter and dejected after being turned away from human civilization, much the same way that Adam in Paradise Lost was turned out of the Garden of Eden (Smith). Shelley explores some aspects of human nature, specifically human lust for power and the unfortunate way we deal with it once it is achieved. Dr. Frankenstein achieved the power of giving an inanimate body life. This is a Godlike power. He continues to play God by passing judgment on his creation. The tragedy is he (as well as all the other people the monster encounters) fails to see the good in his creation that is obviously there. If Dr. Frankenstein is the monsters God, then the monster is literally Godforsaken. Considering the situation, the monster reacts in a very human way. It is largely agreed in American society today that a child who is isolated from human interaction cannot be blamed for his/her actions, and that neglect is one of the worst forms of abuse. In the same way, Frankensteins monster is not at fault for his acts of destruction but is actually the victim. In fact, if there is a villain in this story it would be Frankenstein for his abuse of his monster. Shelleys novel focuses on an aspect of the Prometheus myth typically overlooked in the more traditional version of the Titans defiant martyrdom, namely, an offsprings need for sustained guidance, influence, pity, and support from its creator. BODY 4 During her European travels with her husband, while staying in Geneva with the poet Lord Byron, 18-year-old Mary Shelley created Frankenstein in response to a ghost-story competition among the literary group. To pass the time, the party held stirring discussions of current scientific theories. They were particularly fascinated by the experiments with electricity carried out the century before by Luigi Galvani, who had observed how an electric current made the legs of a dead frog twitch. They speculated on the possibility of bringing dead matter back to life by using electrical impulses. Since she and her husband Percy had recently traveled through southern Germany, not far from the centuries-old Frankenstein Castle, some people have speculated that shed probably also heard the rumors of an eccentric inventor there who claimed to have discovered an elixir of life. After all this scientific talk, Lord Byron took the group in a different direction and suggested that each member of the party write a horror story. Out of this parlor game came a new kind of tale, Mary Shelleys terrifying novel, Frankenstein. Conclusion Frankenstein brought new light to the worries of the 19th century population about whether science and technology would lead to the destruction of mankind. Those same fears continue to plague mankind, whether it is cloning of animals, or the current ideas of genetic modification. The fact that these big questions still inform the social implications of science in the 21st century is a key reason that the popularity of Mary Shelleys story has only grown over time.

The Life Of Karl Marx And Max Weber - 1834 Words

Sociology as an academic discipline has given birth to some of the greatest modern theories to explain society. The early stages of the discipline were particularly concerned with how societies are constructed; the means in which people organize themselves into living systems and how these structures and systems are maintained. The evolution from basic understandings of society as being controlled by abstract supernatural beings to a more articulate and factual explanation of society as an organized system of human relationships can be understood by the examination of theories presented by thinkers and academics within the discipline. The most prominent of these theories that have had everlasting impact on the way contemporary Sociology examines people in society would be the works of Karl Marx and Max Weber. Karl Marx doctored one of the more referenced and enduring analysis’ of the capitalist society and system in his work The Communist Manifesto, Marx points directly at the human cost of industrializing societies and how through intricate means of exploitation and alienation, society is split into two distinct groups or classes, the Proletariat and the Bourgeoisie. Marx makes the argument that because of the restlessness of Bourgeoisie to satisfy their needs and maintain their upper status, the Proletariat is forever locked in a system of production for Bourgeoisie consumption, that serves the purpose of maintaining the upper class. In Protestant Ethic and the Spirit ofShow MoreRelatedKarl Marx And Max Weber1324 Words   |  6 PagesKarl Marx and Max Weber were influential sociologists that paved the way for modern sociological school of thought. Both, Karl Marx and Max Weber contributed a lot to the study and foundation of sociology. 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Dave Matthews Band Live At Red Rocks free essay sample

How does a band put together guitar, bass, drums,flute and violin and actually sound good? One of the most popular bandsright now is the Dave Matthews Band and they pull off this feat quitenicely. Although they have been performing for a long time, the teenagecrowd has just started to take notice of them. The Dave MatthewsBand recently released a new album entitled Live at Red Rocks8.15.95. The album is a double CD and is a live recording of aconcert. The reason that the band did this instead of going to thestudio to record new songs was to cut down on illegal trading andselling of bootleg CDs. I feel this is a very good idea. It not onlystops illegal activities, but it also guarantees that the money thatlisteners spend on Dave Matthews Band music goes directly to the band.Live at Red Rocks also gives listeners a good idea of whatthe band sounds like in concert. We will write a custom essay sample on Dave Matthews Band: Live At Red Rocks or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Live At Red Rocks istheir fifth album. Others include Under the Table andDreaming, Crash, Remember Two Things andRecently. Some of their hit songs include AntsMarching, Too Much, So Much to Say,Crash Into Me and Tripping Billies. On thelatest CD, the group only included a few of these. However, because thealbum is a recording of a concert, the band was also able to turn songssuch as Seek Up, which go unnoticed by the radio, intoharmonious melodies. The Dave Matthews Band constantly exploresnew ideas for their music, which is what makes them so original. Eachmember has a talent that is almost unmatched. With skillful playing, amusical ear and constant new ideas, the Dave Matthews Band is beginningto take off. I have personally enjoyed their music for a fewyears, and I strongly recommend this album to anyone who is intrigued bymusical talent. Live at Red Rocks gives a perfect example ofhow the band sounds in concert. The album ranges from rock to jazz, witheverything in between and more. It is a must for listeners of all ages.

Pollution Lake Huron free essay sample

Obviously, this type of pollution is easier to trace and manage. Non-point source pollution is defined as having contaminants that cannot be traced back to a single source or location. It may come from mulitple sources in small amounts but can become concentrated in a body of water. The last type is atmospheric pollution, also referred to as air pollution and is defined as gasses or solid particles such as soil which are found in the air and can settle in bodies of water. The contanimants described above come from a number of sources including storm sewers, spills, landfills and can enter Lake Huron via variety of methods including atmospheric deposition, direct discharges and tributaries. The effects on the economy are many and the most important one would the effects that these contaminants can have on human health. Pollutants that persist in the waters of Lake Huron can accumulate through the food chain in fish for instance. We will write a custom essay sample on Pollution Lake Huron or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Frequent consumption of fish from these waters can cause high levels of toxic chemicals including DDT, dioxin, PCVs, etc. hich have been attributed to reproductive problems, neurological disorders and cancers. Those with weakened immune systems should stay away from consuming fish from these waters. Other health issues can arise when drinking water becomes contaminated which can cause skin infections and baterial contanimiations. Belor is an example of point source pollution republished from www. lakescientist. com [pic] Other economic factors to consider are the costs it will take to implement solutions to the pollution issues. There have been legislative order designed to establish pollution control – this includes the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement which was created to reduce phosphorus levels in lakes affecting the United States and Canada. In addition, cleaning the waters which are already contaminated could cost up to a trillion dollars by some estimates. The most effective way to clean up is to prevent future contaminations and allowing normal biological processes to get rid of existing contaminants. Using Micro-organisms To Clean Water; http://www. envirotools. org/factsheets/Remediation/bioremediation. shtml republished in www. safewaer. org [pic] However, there are a number of factors which dictate the right course of action. Another way to rid the lake of pollution is called bioremediation which uses microorganisms already found in soil to â€Å"digest† contaminants in water and soil. Also, there are grassroots organizations that often prompt government regulations by creating a groundswell of concern around pollution issues. The following table lists the time that is required for some common items to break down |Time Required to Degrade in Water | |in water. Item | | |Cardboard |2 weeks | |Newspaper |6 weeks | |Foam 50 years | |Styrofoam |80 years | |Aluminum cans |200 years | |Plastic packaging |400 years | |Glass |Forever | Republished from www. water-pollution. org. uk/causes. html in www. safewater. org There are certainly a number of contributing causes to the pollution in Lake Huron as well as negative impacts to the environment and human health factors to consider as well. There doesn’t seem to be one cure all for these issues but rather a number of approaches which together, can help to make our lakes clean and safe. References www. great-lakes. net www. lakescientist. com www. safewater. org