Sunday, August 23, 2009

The Dark Side of Passion

It is undeniable that Victor’s passion for science is admirable. Like many passionate people, however, it is his love of the subject area that is eventually his downfall. From fiction, as in Shakespeare’s Othello to real-life British minister Peter Hain, many have been struck down by the very thing they love above all else. Victor Frankenstein is so consumed by his love for his work that can see nothing other than that for which he is passionate about – even disregarding the love of his life to focus on it. This is the danger of passion: it is possible to be blinded by it to the point of losing everything else that has ever been important. This is the foreshadowing made by Shelley, as Victor's creation is, ultimately, the cause of his demise.

Sources:

"Othello." Sparknotes. Web. 23 Aug. 2009. http://mb.sparknotes.com/mb.epl?b=855&m=1244552&p=4&t=351739.
"Steve Richards: Hain's passion for the job may be his downfall - Steve Richards, Commentators - The Independent." The Independent News UK and Worldwide News Newspaper. Web. 23 Aug. 2009. http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/steve-richards/steve-richards-hains-passion-for-the-job-may-be-his-downfall-769719.html.

1 comment:

  1. superb -- I like how you use the modern reference yet keep from suggesting that Shelley could have been thinking about that situation

    this is a nice example of synthesis thinking as well

    ReplyDelete

Followers