In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the main character, Victor Frankenstein, was unlike other children who wanted to play. He had a strong desire to learn about science. “It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn; and whether it was the outward substance of things or the inner spirit of nature and the mysterious soul of man that occupied me, still my inquiries were directed to the metaphysical, or in its highest sense, the physical secrets of the world” (Shelley 2). Natural philosophy was his favorite studies. From then on, he educated himself in these study with books by Cornelius Agrippa, Albertus Magnus, and Paracelsus. At the age of seventeen, Victor left Geneva and attended University of Ingolstadt. He introduced himself to his professor of natural philosophy. His professor informed him that his previous studies were absolutely useless and outdated.  He had also met his chemistry professor, in which he decided to his studies in science. His studies in science started the pitfall of Victor’s education. Victor Frankenstein’s thirst for knowledge and senseless curiosity blinded him from all senses. He abandons his social life and family. He stayed in his apartment studying how humans are made and death/decay. Victor Frankenstein decides to give life to inanimate body. Through years of restless work, he created a creature. Victor’s senses finally come back on the night his creature awoke. The ugliness of the creature awoke Victor. If Victor didn’t have  strong thirst for knowledge, he could of prevented all the misfortunes that happened to him later on– “instead of that serenity of conscience which allowed me to look back upon the past with self-satisfaction, and from thence to gather promise of new hopes, I was seized by remorse and the sense of guilt, which hurried me away to a hell of intense tortures such as no language can describe” (Shelley 9).

The monster was left on his own.  John Locke’s theory of “tabula rasa” is present in the monster. The monster has a blank mind, “No distinct ideas occupied my mind; all was confused” (Shelley 11). It is through his sensations and reflections he learns. He had no knowledge of anything until he was hungry and tired. Through his experiences, his knowledge builds and he educates himself. He learns how to keep a fire burning and how to collect food. On one of his journey to obtain food, he learns his position in society. When a man saw him, the man screamed and ran away. The monster realizes he is not like any human and decides to stay away from humans. The monster stays in a hut and there he learns the basic knowledge of language by eavesdropping on his neighbors. He learns how to read and obtains knowledge of the world, politics, government, status of humans, etc. The monster learns “of what a strange nature is knowledge! It clings to the mind when it has once seized on it like a lichen on the rock” (Shelley 13). The downfall of the monster’s education is when the monster tries to gain the approval of his neighbor. He was attacked by his neighbor and was rejected. Because of the monster’s looks and from his experiences, he knows he would never be accepted in society. This leads him to ask for a companion. Rejection, abandonment, misery, and isolation leads to the monster’s reckless actions. The monster went from an educated and tamed man to a ruthless monster. He and his mind has gone bad. The monster vows to seek revenge on all human kinds. From here on, the monster kills innocent people.

The novel wants to say that knowledge can be dangerous. To pursue knowledge beyond human limits can put us in a dangerous position. Victor’s desire to create humans led to destruction. He went beyond nature’s limit.  Walton, just like Victor, is eager to learn more. Walton wants to reach the North Pole, where no other human has done before. He is trapped between sheets of ice and contemplates on whether to proceed. However unlike Victor, Walton decides to go back south. Walton learns from Victor’s story how the thirst for knowledge can be dangerous.