by The novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley tells a story about the terrible Victor Frankenstein, the man who was endlessly striving for knowledge and the desire to become something more than a simple man. This novel shows the curiosity and fascination of Victor particularly the obsession with the power of knowledge and its boundless wonders. Although he was already a science devotee, but the need to discover the ways of life stems from the desire to triumph over the weakness of life, which Victor Frankenstein has due to his mother’s death. Thus, the given central idea is depicted in the novel Frankenstein and through the comparative analysis of the certain results of scientific arrogance in the novel by Shelley and the 2004 motion picture, this paper will assert against transhumanism. Victor Frankenstein’s relentless quest for knowledge and his use of science to disrupt natural boundaries illustrate transhumanistic ideals but make us question its ethical and societal implications. In addition to this, the portrayal of the creature’s unique monstrosity—marked by deep emotions, sensibility, and human-like desires again asserts the ethical and societal implications of scientific arrogance. The nature versus nurture debate underscores the potential dangers when scientists overlook ethical considerations, as seen in Victor’s creation, suggesting that neglect and mistreatment can turn any being into a ‘monster.’ By keeping this in view, this essay will analyze the themes of monstrosity and ambition while critiquing transhumanism in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and its 2004 adaptation.
Transhumanism depiction in Frankenstein Novel and its 2004 Movie Adaption
In both the novel as well as the movie, the root of transhumanism is depicted to be present in the curiosity of the human mind while also bringing forth new concepts to define the philosophy more clearly before the audience. In the book, Victor’s curiosity makes him pursue his transhumanist ambition. He experiments with science and technology in his quest to go beyond human limits and make life. Victor achieves a successful upgrading of human capabilities by creating life from the dead. Similarly, in the movie, curiosity is depicted as a driving force behind the transhumanistic ideals of Frankenstein. Even as a child, he finds himself wondering about the secrets of man’s life. As he grows older, this curiosity turns into a desire to use science as a tool to go beyond the limits of nature. As a university student, he continues asking his professor how it is impossible to create new life or bring the dead back to life through scientific experiments when science has already performed a vast number of miracles. Moreover, transhumanism has been associated with disregard for religious values and beliefs.
In the novel, Victor challenges God by trying to create life on his own. He uses his knowledge of science and technology to challenge and overstep the boundaries that have been placed by a divine power. This action of his shows his lack of respect as well as fear for God, which is completely unlike the devoted Christian society in which he lived. Similarly, in the movie, when Victor shares his idea of creating a new life with his professor, he is warned by him. The professor tries to remind him that his plan is evil and that life can only be created by God. Victor, however, being led on by his inquisitiveness, ignores all warnings. He deems his knowledge ample enough and himself capable enough to create a new human being. Despite all warnings and religious teachings, he believes that through scientific experiments, he can create things that are believed to have been created by God only. In both the book and the movie, the spirit of transhumanism is linked with the human tendency to reject people who do not fit the conventions of society. Although the creature is created by a human being out of utter curiosity, yet his creator as well as the society refuses to accept him. Even though he knows he is the creator of the monster, he does not stop to help it or provide for it after its creation.
Moreover, society also refuses to accept a human being who is conventionally unattractive. The monster is constantly ridiculed by people everywhere he goes. Thus both the book and the movie put forward the notion that human beings can attempt to transcend the limits of nature through science, yet, if they succeed in creating something new, they feel reluctant to own it and take responsibility for it. However, the means and knowledge that Frankenstein utilizes to create the monster are more advanced in the movie as compared to the book. The book mentions the use of basic scientific methods in the monster’s creation. Frankenstein uses the knowledge of alchemy as well as electricity to give life to a lifeless body. The book comprises of vague mentions of scientific methods used for creating the monster. In the movie, comparatively advanced methods and technology are used to create the monster. The details of the process of the monster’s creation are more explicit and specific. There are mentions of methods such as DNA manipulation, tissue engineering, cloning and cellular regeneration etc. these are the methods used by Frankenstein to create a new human. The movie attempts to make the creation of a human being at the hands of a human himself more believable by aligning the process with contemporary knowledge of science, unlike the book, which vaguely mentions the methods and focuses more on the horror surrounding the monster. Therefore, the depiction transhumanism in both the versions is similar as well as dissimilar in a number of ways.
Monstrosity as a consequence of transhumanism
The monstrosity of the creature created by Frankenstein can be examined while discussing the moral and ethical implications of transhumanism. The traditional concept of monstrosity is more inclined toward mythical beasts, fabled races, and deformed births whereas deformed Bodies or abnormal bodies were the center of the idea of monstrosity (Lowe, Monsters, and Monstrosity in Augustan Poetry). It is quite evident that this monstrosity was considered innate, and no discussion or scrutiny has been associated with the origin of the monstrosity. However, Frankenstein gives us a space to discuss what led to the creation of a monster and whether is it a monster. The answer lies in the fact that Frankenstein was obsessed with going beyond the set-up boundaries and was easily directed by his desire – the desire to delimitate the utilization of human knowledge and to bring a person back to life in the conquest of his satisfying his yearning to explore. There are also some personal reasons that he lost so many loved ones to death and due to this, he wanted to reverse the effects of death. He thinks that utilizing science and knowledge will dissolve all the boundaries for humankind and he sees it as having the potential to bring change and an opportunity to question life and death. However, this ends up as a complete disaster. While creating the monster his neglect can be noted by how he never thought about the appearance of his creature and what will it face when it is given life. He stitched different pieces of organs to make an eight feet giant neglecting the difficulties he’ll face when he enters society. This takes us to the idea that his monstrosity isn’t innate but due to the neglect by his creator. This creature was soft and had good moral and ethical understandings, but he repeatedly said, “I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend”. The misery brought on him is due to the lack of concern by the creator and society. This lack of concern becomes very detrimental when scientists overlook the possibilities of harm to bring enhancement and change to humankind.
Ethical dilemma of scientific experiment
Transhumanism offers the potential to overcome human biological limitations but raises significant ethical concerns such as the moral legitimacy of human enhancement and its relationship to experimental institutions, disturbing social norms, and creating new forms of social inequalities. In Frankenstein, Victor’s creation of the creature, through assembling and reviving body parts, creates a new form of life transcending human mortality, which is apparently an extreme human enhancement. The moral legitimacy of human enhancement in experiments is examined by the scientist’s ethical review board team, who give different hypotheses for the future consequences. On the contrary, Victor’s obsession with deeper knowledge of nature led him to conduct this experiment in isolation, overlooking the ethical and moral justification that led to tragic consequences in Victor’s own life and the creature’s. The creature despite his intellectual and emotional depth, he is marginalized, rejected, and isolated because of his appearance. This isolation of the creature made him violent and revengeful, directing the deaths of Victor’s family members and his beloved. This shows the social inequalities of marginalizing those who do not fit societal norms. In the novel, the creature approaches De Lacey, a blind old man, hoping that he will find some kindness in him, and because of his blindness, he will interact with him without any prejudices.
“Agatha fainted, and Safie, unable to attend to her friend, rushed out of the cottage. Felix darted forward, and with supernatural force, tore me from his father, to whose knees I clung; in a transport of fury, he dashed me to the ground and struck me violently with a stick” (Shelley, Vol 2, Ch 7).
In the movie adaptation, the setting and character are a little bit changed; the creature meets De Lacey because his granddaughter takes him to the cottage, and when Felix and Safie return, Felix says, “Keep away, you monster!” and starts to beat the creature and push him out (Frankenstein 2004 Part 1 1:18:40-1:28:15). Although the settings are a little bit changed in the movie, it delivers the same social inequalities and prejudices in both mediums. In both mediums, the creature’s marginalization underscores ethical dilemmas that arise from inattentive scientific experiments and social implications.
Critiquing the dangers of transhumanism
Frankenstein further explores modern-era fears of unintended consequences of human ambitions, like Victor’s hubris and disregard for the potentially harmful effects of his actions. One of the major dangers of Transhumanism lies in its inherent hubris, referring to the belief that humans should transcend natural limitations through technology. In Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein embodies this hubris, his desire to challenge the natural process of life and death by creating life from the dead which eventually leads to terrible consequences, he brings his suffering along with the suffering of the creature he created.
“Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world.” (Shelley, Ch. 4)
These lines reflect Victor’s hubris as he sees himself as someone greater and capable of making a change against nature’s rules. The 2004 adaptation highlights Victor’s obsession with his project, ignoring his professor’s advice and neglecting his moral responsibilities. His obsession with creating life from the dead blinds him to the ethical and moral responsibilities bound to his scientific pursuits, ultimately leading to his destruction. His refusal to take responsibility for his actions leads to his downfall and the creature’s suffering as well. His unchecked ambition and neglect of the moral implications of his scientific experiments reflect the dangers of chasing progress without considering the ethical consequences of one’s actions. This critique remains relevant today, especially in analyses surrounding transhumanism, where advancements like artificial intelligence, and biotechnology are progressing fast, without considering its neglect of ethical values and consequences.
Conclusion
When contrasting the novel Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and its 2004 movie adaption, one can realize that there is a brilliant commentary on transhumanism and its unchecked consequences. In the movie and the novel, fundamental ethical questions and consequences of scientific endeavor and human tampering are again shown by Victor Frankenstein, the scientific investigator, and the monster. Similarly, the contemporary movement of transhumanism, with its promise to enhance human capabilities through technology and artificial intelligence, raises fears of potential misuse, including threats to privacy, technological misuse, and the subversion of fundamental human values. These parallels are emphasized in both adaptations of Frankenstein, which emphasize the focus on the personal and societal effects of Victor’s ambition, portraying his creation as both a victim and a consequence of hubris. This serves as a timeless reminder of the ethical dilemmas that accompany technological and scientific invention, urging humanity to carefully consider the potential consequences of our actions and the responsibilities that come with one’s ability, in the pursuit of knowledge and progress.
References
- Branagh, Kenneth, et al. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, 2004.
- Monsters and Monstrosity in Augustan Poetry. University of Michigan Press, 2015, books.google.com.pk/books?id=A2rtBwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
- Popcornflix. Frankenstein: Part 1 of 2. Directed by Kevin Connor, performances by Donald Sutherland, William Hurt, and Julie Delpy, 2004. YouTube, uploaded by Popcornflix, 28 Oct. 2022,
- Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft. Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus: The 1818 Text. Oxford University Press, 1998
