Essay Plan: Abuse of Power
Abuse of Status/Education (that comes with that status)
Victor was born into a family of good status and power, as a result he had a top-tier
education at the University of Ingolstadt but was so confident in his own intelligence that he
dismissed most of the teachers and taught himself many areas of study, including magic.
‘followed the routine of education in the schools of Geneva, I was, to a great degree, self-taught with
regard to my favourite studies.’ – he was so confident in his abilities and studies that he ignores his
professors - even Waldman - and learns about Alchemy and magic on his own, this inevitably would
have negative consequences.
‘I had hitherto attended the schools of Geneva, but my father thought it necessary for the
completion of my education that I should be made acquainted with other customs than those of my
native country.’
Due to his family status, he feels as though he is above others and judges' others based on
their looks and beauty, just like he does with the monster. This is because he was
surrounded with beautiful people and wealth his whole childhood, he knows no better.
‘a little squat man...and a repulsive countenance’, ‘little conceited fellow...deliver sentences out of a
pulpit’ - when Victor decides he doesn’t like Krempe (for admittedly good reason) he first insults his
appearance over his rudeness, showing how important looks and beauty is to Victor and that if
someone isn’t beautiful and good-looking than Victor will have no respect or love for them.
As a result of his status and education and the fact that he has unrealistic expectations of the
world and himself, Victor has an excessive amount of ambition and desires respect and
glory.
‘my life might have been passed in ease and luxury, but I preferred glory’ - even though he had a
good and comfortable life, a life better than most with loving parents and everything he could ever
have wanted, he still wanted more. All because he wanted not just his family to love him, but for the
whole world to recognise and revere him
Context:
Shelley herself was born into wealth and status, with both her parents being well-respected figures
in their respective fields, just like Victor. She just like Victor had access to all the knowledge she
wanted, but not much in the way of paternal affection. Another parallel between Shelley’s life and
Frankenstein's is the fact that both lost their mothers, albeit at different times of their lives.
The University of Ingolstadt was a university which was closed because of close relations with the
feared cult/sect of the ‘Illuminati’. The society's goals were to oppose superstition, obscurantism,
religious influence over public life, and abuses of state power.
Abuse of Knowledge/Science especially against Nature
Quotes:
Victor desires to transgress all mortal boundaries, aims which include subjugating nature,
defeating death and learning all the secrets there ever was.
