Romantics of the nineteenth century believed that not all sciences are beneficial to man; when one strays from morality and scientific method, the effects are damaging. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein exemplified this belief: science, though not inherently deleterious, becomes injurious when ethical boundaries are crossed; Victor is consumed by guilt as his creation wreaks havoc upon his life and loves. Mary Shelley's gothic story can be perceived as more than a horrifying tale; it is an astute insight into the consequences of science devoid of moral principles.
             Initially, Victor maintains a healthy interest in science; as an adolescent, he wonders at everyday phenomena like "distillation, and ... steam." When he enters university, his "improvement of chemical instruments" earns him accolade and esteem; used innocently, science has its beneficial functions, and does not negatively affect Victor. However, the dangers of heedless scientific ambition arise when Frankenstein "succeed[s] in discovering the cause of generation and life," and becomes "capable of bestowing animation upon lifeless matter." Driven to invention by the thought of "new and almost unlimited powers," he takes the place of God in relation to his creation. During his process of creating a human, he grows emaciated and sickly, and, being completely engrossed in his work, cuts himself off from the world. After finally infusing life into the creation, Victor realizes his "ardour" has caused him to animate a "demoniacal corpse...no mortal could support," and he immediately begins to feel the consequences: he hallucinates and falls ill for the winter. Frankenstein's quest for achievement in science, overriding any ethical considerations, only continues to bring him strife as the story progresses.
             As the monster, abandoned and angry at his creator, lashes out by killing William and framin...