In Mary Shelley novel Frankenstein there are many elements of Technophilia, however once the destructive capabilities of the technology are known, the characters in the novel become extremely Technophobic.
For example, in the beginning of the novel when Frankenstein first became interested in brining life to objects that are already dead, he slaved over the production of his creature. He even sacrificed a lot of his health in the process of creating such a creature, “But my enthusiasm was checked by my anxiety, and I appeared rather like one doomed by slavery to toil in the mines…Every night I was oppressed by a slow fever” (38). His deteriorating health didn’t seem to bother Frankenstein too much, for he was so obsessed with doing the impossible. Frankenstein didn’t stop to think about the effects that his creature would have on the world; he didn’t seem to care at the time. Which is also interesting that he would create a gigantic creature to first test his hypothesis, he was too much in love with the idea of his great technological find.
Frankenstein may have loved technology when he was in the works of his experiment, however upon being successful with performing the impossible, he suddenly hated his creation. Frankenstein saw the “ugly” side to technology and it frightened him so much that he completely neglected the being, leaving his creation to fend for himself in the cruel world. “How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I endeavored to form?”(39) Frankenstein couldn’t stand to look his creature, even though he labored over it for months and it took a great toll on his well-being. Frankenstein feared his creation; it was unnatural, with its body not in proportion and yellow skin.
The monster, having been neglected by his creator tries to find refuge in human beings around him. However he is unsuccessful, for people fear his unnatural qualities. As the monster is neglected more and more he starts to take out his vengeance on the human race, starting with his creator. Frankenstein soon recognizes the capabilities of the technology that he created, superhuman strength fueled by the rage he possessed towards the humans, because of this, the monster is feared by all throughout the novel.
These pieces of evidence are different in nature but are seemingly related to the thesis. Although society goes from loving and being extremely interested in technology, bringing life to a lifeless object, they soon realize that the technology is too unnatural and not fit for the world, therefore people grow to fear the creation.
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