In Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, there are several ambiguities, which make the theme as complex as the real world we live in. Shelley does not try to conceitedly solve the puzzles, but instead leads the readers to wrestle with the ambiguities on their own. For instance, Shelley defines curiosity as a part of human nature, while she also thinks that humans should not go against their nature by being too curious. Both of the two main characters, Victor and the monster, are curious about the secrets of life. Victor seeks through scientific development to animate dead matter; the monster also seeks to find his own origin. The rule of nature finally punishes them at the end of the story by killing them. If humans are naturally curious, why does nature destroy them for their curiosity? .
Science offers endless opportunities for curious people to discover nature. Seeking the unknown methods of nature, Victor becomes a pioneer of science. "In other studies you go as far as others have gone before you, and there is nothing more to know; but in a scientific pursuit there is continual food for discovery and wonder."" (29) .
Galloping on the unlimited field of science, Victor passionately seeks the knowledge of nature. Having fully discovered nature, Victor starts to pursue more: a supernatural power: "Unless I had been animated by an almost supernatural enthusiasm, my application to this study would have been irksome and almost intolerable- (30) Having reached the summit of human discovery, his curiosity leads him to experience more unknown possibilities "immortality: "Whence, I often asked myself, did the principle of life proceed?-(30) The wonder "If I could banish disease from the human frame, and render man invulnerable to any but a violent death!-(Pg. 22) he has in his childhood comes up to him again, and his "ability to give life to an animal as complex and wonderful as man- allows him to achieve it now.
Ugliness is such a hard word to define. What is ones understanding of ugliness? Is it a bruised, crippled, marked or deformed being? Maybe physical ugliness is a reflection of what you think of things and how you see them? In the Webster dictionary the word ugly is defined to be "Offensive to the sight; contrary to beauty; being of disagreeable or loathsome aspect; unsightly; repulsive and deformed." ...