Notes 2
Appendix B: The education of Victor Frankenstein: Darwin and Davy
The author of the Discouse, Sir Humphry Davy, talks about science (chemistry in specific) in a creative way in these notes. Here is a short overview of
In Discourse 5-9 Davy credits many scientific discoveries- "production of rain,hail,snow..the conversion of deaad matter into living matter by vegetable organs"- to chemistry. He explains the significant role that chemistry plays to the scientific community as a whole.
Discourse 14-17:
In the name of science, man has used nature out of self satisfaction and personal desires. He says that man harnessed parts of nature, such as heat and light, under his control for "instruments of...enjoyment, or of...destruction." He argues that science has given man "powers which may have been called creative." He basically says that men use these powers for a sense of control rather than to gain knowledge. Then he mentions that science has so much more to offer and there are new discoveries to be made. He calls upon future generations to build upon what was known before them and to continue to expand what is known in the science world.
Discourse 18-19:
In short, this section discussed the idea that new discoveries (during the time) have emerged and replaced old ones. For example, electricity, the composition of the atmosphere, and gas properties. He even refers to the discovery of electricity and its ability to make dead matter, animal and human, move.
Discourse 23:
New discoveries in the "external world" give people enjoyment and because ideas in this subject are always changing, they constantly change our "habits of thinking."
Discourse 24-26
Davy says that the most powerful ambitions of the soul are never satisfied with knowledge. And that scientific discoveries may only cause happiness in solitude because the rest of the world may be "indifferent" toawrds them.
Many of Davy's beliefs about the relationship that men have with science are apparent in Frankenstein. I found a few examples in Volume I of the text regarding Victor and his practices.
"..loathsome in itself, but which had taken an irresistable hold of my immagination. I wished..to procrastinate all that related tp ,y feelings of affection until the great object, which swallowed up every habit pf my nature, should be completed (82)."
"..I believed that exercise and amusement would soon drive away such symptoms; and I promised myself both of these, when my creation should be complete (83)."
In both of these examples from the text, Victor admits that he is consumed by his project. He must complete it in order to feel satisfied. Its these symptoms that Davy warns man about in his notes.
I found from a few sources online that Mary Shelley was reading works by Davy while writing Frankemstein. It is evident in the way she writes about science that she drew a lot of inspriation from Davy's ideas. She makes some sexual references to science and talks about the power that men have- almost like creators (referncing religion)- just as Davy does.














