FRANKENLIFE

[emily-1444]

Do You Even Clone, Bro?

I do not agree with the concept of cloning. I think that cloning is morally wrong because in a way it is taking God’s creation and making it new then being considered as someone’s own work. There are two problems with this. The first is that it is taking God’s creation and making it into something new which is not honoring to God as it could be implying that God’s work is not good enough and man wanted to make it perfect in their eyes. I understand that cloning is used to possibly remake something that someone has lost, such as a pet, but that is not what God intended. God gives every living thing its life and there is a reason why every creature is born and dies, things were not meant to be recreated unless it was through his will and work. The second is through the way that scientists are taking God’s perfect and wonderful creation and remaking it which is saying to God that he did not make his creation how the person wanted it to be. This goes back to my point on God giving every creature its life and how if he wanted it to last forever, then he would make it last forever. Since my view of cloning and how it works does not align with how I interpret things through a Christian perspective, I do not think that scientists should pursue human cloning, genetic engineering, and other topics of similar areas. Frankenstein is seen as an example of cloning. I think that the idea of Frankenstein being a cautionary tale for modern scientific study relates to how ambitious desire of something combined with technology does not lead to good outcomes. When Victor created the creature he did not nurture him in the beginning stages of his being so following that the creature obviously did not know what was morally right or wrong which led him to eventually killing several people. This shows an example of how cloning is wrong and why it should not be put to testing through scientific experiments. Scientific studies and research on cloning should be able to see the factors of cloning and what happens when something goes wrong through the fictional story of Frankenstein. 

Word count - 377

[emily-1444]

Bioethics

In regard to scientific research I believe that ethics plays an important role. I think that this is because when doing research scientists want to make sure that they are giving correct information that can guide others in those areas of experimentation. If a scientist was to conduct an experiment that is morally wrong then that could be seen as unethical because he would be influencing others, through his research, of something that is generally disreputable. On top of it being unethical, he would be providing misleading information that could inspire others to further pursue research on that topic which would cause more unethical experiments to take place. I think that unethical scientific research is caused because of someone having too much ambition. Research is something that is necessary but whenever that necessity turns too much into the desires of ambition is when it can become unethical. 

Ambition in and of itself can be dangerous, but ambition and the pursuit of knowledge mixed together can be even more dangerous. While sometimes ambition can lead to good things, generally I think that it leads to more bad than it does good. Ambitions can be dangerous because it can lead to an obsession. If you become so ambitious and desire one thing for so long then it does not seem like a desire anymore, but it can seem as if it is an unhealthy obsession. The combination of ambition and technology does not seem like it would mix well and iI do not think that it does. When technology comes into play with ambition there are many things that could be dangerous and misleading on the internet. Ambition is another reason why just because technology exists does not mean that it should always be acted upon. If humans were to turn to technology for every little thing possible they would know nothing. Technology can be beneficial for lots of things, but the overuse of technology can be bad for society. I think that technology is great when it is used for good causes such as in medicine, for teaching, to communicate, but it is most definitely not something that needs to be acted upon in every circumstance. 

Word count - 365

[emily-1444]

Sublime

Victor takes a mini vacation and visits several beautiful places because he and his dad decided that a vacation would do him good both mentally and physically. He visits Lake Geneva where he goes boating, the Swiss Mountains, and Chamounix valley where he takes an escape from thinking. One place that I have been to that I would say is an example of sublime nature is the mountains in Colorado. I visited Colorado for a volleyball trip and when we had free time we took a trip to the mountains where I just felt in awe of all the beauty that was in front of me. God’s nature is stunning and reflects his mighty power and by being in Colorado and in the mountains I was able to experience his beauty firsthand. I think that ice symbolizes two things in Frankenstein. The thing first I believe that ice symbolizes is death. This is important because throughout the story there is lots of death. The next thing I believe it symbolizes is isolation. This is important because the story begins when Captain Walton’s ship is stuck between the ice. Isolation can also be seen through the monster's story when he feels isolated from society. 

Word count - 203 

[emily-1444]

Ethical Dilemma

The creature proposes an idea to Victor to make him a female monster companion. If Victor were to say yes he would be saying yes to creating another creature in which he would probably not nurture and raise. If he did not nurture the new creature, she would most likely result in becoming like the already living creature and have an evil spirit. If Victor were to say no he would be angering the creature. The creature is basically asking for a female companion so that he will not experience loneliness anymore and by making the female creature it would be as if Victor were paying back what he owes to the creature. I think that Victor should have created the female creature. The creature argues his point of why he should get a female companion by saying he would no longer be compelled to kill if he got a female companion. I would say that I would agree with what the creature is saying. He has big feelings of isolation and he does not know how to cope with the emotions he is dealing with. The result of not knowing how to cope is him murdering people and if he were to have that extra companion then he would have someone to communicate with who might understand. 

Word count - 219

[emily-1444]

X Factor

CREATURE: Mankind despises those that are wretched. How can man hate me when I am miserable throughout all of my days! But it is you, my creator, who despises me the most. The one who could have destroyed me when he had a chance, but chose to keep alive. You seek to get rid of me, to kill me. If you do your responsibilities towards me and withhold your standards, I will do the same in return for you. If you do not agree with me then I will seek after you and kill you and all of your companions. Surely you do not think that I am the one in the wrong for you to seek revenge on me. Have you not put me through enough suffering, why do you want to bring me more misery? Even though I live a treacherous life I take pride in being alive and I will fight to stay living. Do not forget that you created me more powerful than yourself. I am your creation and you owe it to me to treat me that way with respect. I have to live my life in such a way that everyone I see is content, but I am excluded from that. What must I do to seem good for you? I was once kind, loving, and humble but now I am alone. Now you detest me. If man knew of my being, they would do the same to me as you do to me, prepare to kill me. Why should I not hate them? If man knew that I existed, they would treat me the same way you do. Why should I not hate man then? It is your job to make them see me in a new way. All I ask is that you listen to my story. I will leave you now, you cannot listen or give me kindness. 

Word count - 316

VICTOR: “Devil, do not come near me!” You should fear me and what I can do to you. Leave at once, or stay and I will tear you down. Then I can seek revenge on those you viciously murdered. I made a mistake in creating you! Leave, we will never be reconciled. If you do not leave, we will fight til there is only one standing. The day you came to life was cursed. I curse myself, the very hands that created you. You have given me no authority to decide if I am just to you. Leave from my sight you ugly creature. I will only listen to your story because I am pushed by curiosity to know. I will give you one chance to prove why you are worthy of happiness. 

Word count - 132 

[emily-1444]

[emily-1444]

Role of Parents

Victor as the creator of the creature has the responsibility to nurture it into the beginning stage of his being. He is the person who caused his existence to be present in the world, and to just abandon something that is alive would be cruel. Victor should have been a father figure to his creation. The creature when it came alive was a blank slate because he had done nothing in the world so far. By being a blank slate, the creature could have been a morally good being if Victor were to have nurtured him. I do not think that Victor should have destroyed the creature. Even though he did not pour into the creature when he was alive as he did when he was creating it, he should have given it a chance to be a good member of society. I think Victor should have given the creature a chance to live and be respected in the world. If Victor did choose to isolate the creature from society I can understand his thinking behind that. By isolating it, if it were a good being or something that could potentially impact the future, he might want to keep it to himself so that he can use it and make more advancements to see if he could better it in recreating it for society. Victor should have given the creature a chance to be integrated into the world though. If the creature would have been raised in a correct environment then he could have potentially been useful for society. I think that because Victor did not nurture and raise the creature, he is fully responsible for it becoming a murderer. I think the creature became a murderer because, even from the beginning of its life, Victor did not give it a chance. The creature might have felt that murdering was its last resort becuase of the lonliness it might have been feeling. 

Word count - 322

[emily-1444]

TABULA RASA

Tabula Rasa is a latin term for “blank slate”. I think that at birth everyone really is a blank slate because they have done nothing yet in their lives. We are all born sinners and have to be made new through accepting Jesus but at birth there is nothing wrong or right that one has done in their life. Nature and nurture both shape people into who they are. Nature is defined as genes, inherent traits, “hardwired” characteristics, which basically means what is true to you. Nurture is the environment, childhood, and cultural influences in which you can follow based on what is true to you. I think that nurture is what shapes people more though because when one is young they do not know the ways of the world, and it is through the experiences and upbringing based on how one was raised that helps them to develop and shape their character.

When it comes to mothering, I believe that it is important for every child to have that upbringing whether it comes from their actual mother figure or not. By having the experience of mothering one can gain basic knowledge and understanding of the world, mothering is a foundation of where one begins to receive nurturing. I think that both parents and society need to nurture children. A parents job in nurturing their children is to make sure they know right from wrong, good from evil, to help them to be able to develop relationships, provide experiences from them, and so many more things that a society would not be able to aid in nurturing a child. Society's job in nurturing children though is to help them face struggles and overcome adversity, to let them overcome circumstances that a parental figure might not have the ability to provide, and to do other things like make decisions for themselves. All parents should love their children unconditionally no matter what. People will make mistakes and even if their child does something wrong it is still their child that they raised, hopefully lovingly, to overcome hardships they face in the world.

word count - 350