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Frankenstein Knowledge Quotes

It may appear very strange, that a disciple of Albertus Magnus should arise in the eighteenth century; but our family was not scientifical, and I had not attended any of the lectures given at the schools of Geneva. My dreams were therefore undisturbed by reality; and I entered with the greatest diligence into the search of the philosopher’s stone and the elixir of life.

– Mary Shelley

Frankenstein, Chapter 1. Victor Frankenstein offers a hint here of his desire to act as God and explore outside the norms of science and knowledge. From 1818 First Edition.

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 at the metaphysical, or in its highest sense, the physical secrets of the world.

– Mary Shelley

Frankenstein, Chapter 2. From early in the novel, Victor Frankenstein shows that he is not like others. He is driven to discover the secrets of heaven and earth, which ultimately leads to his downfall.

“Chemistry is that branch of natural philosophy in which the greatest improvements have been and may be made; it is on that account that I have made it my peculiar study; but at the same time, I have not neglected the other branches of science. A man would make but a very sorry chemist if he attended to that department of human knowledge alone. If your wish is to become really a man of science and not merely a petty experimentalist, I should advise you to apply to every branch of natural philosophy, including mathematics.”

– Mary Shelley

Frankenstein, Chapter 3. M Waldman to Victor.

“By degrees I made a discovery of still greater moment. I found that these people possessed a method of communicating their experience and feelings to one another by articulate sounds. I perceived that the words they spoke sometimes produced pleasure or pain, smiles or sadness, in the minds and countenances of the hearers. This was indeed a godlike science, and I ardently desired to become acquainted with it.”

– Mary Shelley

Frankenstein, Chapter 12. The monster makes discoveries based on experimentation and observation, like Victor.
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