The aim of this paper is to explore the theme of 'forbidden knowledge¡ by analysing Mary Shelley¡s Frankenstein and John Milton¡s Paradise Lost, so as to show some of the aspects in which these two stories are remarkably similar. In order to achieve this, this paper will be organized in the following way. Firstly, the concept of 'thirst for knowledge¡, and how this leads to commit a sin, will be examined. Secondly, Frankenstein¡s complex relationship to the characters of Paradise Lost will be analysed. Thirdly, how the principle of 'hierarchy¡ applies to both works of art will be demonstrated. Fourthly, a description of how passion triumphs over reason will be provided. Finally, a conclusion about how all these themes contribute to connecting Paradise Lost with Frankenstein will be drawn.
             No sooner does Frankenstein start than the reader is informed that a certain type of knowledge is to be seen as something forbidden or sinful. This does not necessarily mean that any act of acquiring knowledge should be regarded as sinful; otherwise Milton and Shelley would have been sinners just because they constantly felt the need to expand their knowledge by reading books. Instead, this means that anyone who embarks on an ambitious search for knowledge so as to better themselves, and without weighing the consequences, can bring misery not only to themselves but also to all humankind. In order to show how the quest for knowledge is viewed in Frankenstein, an extract from Mary Shelley¡s novel will be cited below:
             ¡§ You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been.¡
             This quotation is more than interesting since, when compared to Milton¡s Paradise Lost, it can be seen how these two stories are closely connected. To begin with, the fact that Frankenstein associates the desire for 'knowledge and wisdom¡ with a 'sn...