Frankenstein

"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, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow." -Victor Frankenstein

I thought this quote was really interesting for a few reasons. Shelley wrote Frankenstein in 1817 during the early stages of the Industrial Revolution when there was an emphasis on science and technology. And, one would think, that with all the improvements and discoveries taking place, that the view toward science and experimenting would have been different. But, that is what I find so interesting. Victor invests himself in his experiments, his creation and lust for knowledge only to realize that sciece is not always productive or fulfilling. Victor tells us to be weary of science and while this revolution is taking place, with the creation of cities and machines, Victor longs for the ideas of post-Industrialist world.