In Chapter 2 of Frankenstein by Mary
Shelley, Victor Frankenstein relates his history to the sea captain, Robert Walton. In
so doing, he describes his hunger to know the secrets of science, a hunger that has not
been fostered by his family who are "not scientific." Victor says that he works under
the guidance of his preceptors and diligently searches for the "philosopher's stone"--a
base metal that could be turned to gold--and the elixir of
life.
At this point, Victor's fascination with the
"philosopher's stone," used metaphorically to mean the secrets of science is an
admirable one since he expresses this reason:
"Wealth was an inferior object; but what glory
would attend the discovery, if I could banish disease from the human frame, and render
man invulnerable to any but a violent
death!"
In addition, Victor
is also intrigued by the power of electricity. At first, he states that he has "the
spirit of good." However, "Destiny was too potent." His interest in alchemy as a means
of obtaining knowledge of science which could be utilized in curing diseases is
admirable. However, in seeking knowledge about nature and existence, Victor ventures
beyond the ethical limits of man.
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