Thirst For Knowledge

        Throughout the story Shelley portrays knowledge as dangerous. This danger is most obviously and clearly exhibited in Victor’s knowledge about creating life. Despite however this focus on knowledge and its dangers, secrecy is ever-present in this tale; the inherent lack of knowledge that secrecy creates is also demonstrated to be dangerous in this novel.  The danger of absent knowledge is shown in the Death of Henry. Perhaps if he had known about the monster and about Victor’s reason for the voyage he could have saved himself.  Similarly, if on the wedding night Victor had not kept the existence of the monster from Elizabeth, she would have known to be cautious; perhaps if Victor had not kept knowledge of the creature from her, she would have saved herself.  Furthermore, Victor keeps his secret of animation from the creature by thoroughly disposing of the female creature.  In doing so he prevents the creature from creating his own mate and appeasing his desire for companionship. The creature’s continued lack of knowledge in turn causes the death of Elizabeth.  Through the continued negative presentation of both possessing and not possessing knowledge it seems that Shelley is telling the reader that it is not knowledge or this lack of knowledge that is dangerous. It seems she is alternately suggesting that our human thirst for knowledge is dangerous.