Frankenstein and Robert Walton free essay sample

Dangerous Knowledge—An Analytical Essay on â€Å"Frankenstein† The pursuit of discovery and knowledge are thrilling aspects of human achievement, but can also be very dangerous if not handled correctly. In Mary Shelley’s â€Å"Frankenstein,† Shelley portrays these two aspects of accomplishment as dangerous, destructive, and even fateful. Shelley begins her novel with an ambitious seafarer named Robert Walton. Walton is determined to reach the North Pole, where he may â€Å"tread a land never before imprinted by the foot of man† (6). During his journey, he writes constantly to his sister, Margaret Saville. Unfortunately, due to the laws of nature, sheets of impassable ice enclosing on their ship soon interrupt Walton’s mission. Trapped, Walton meets Victor Frankenstein, another ambitious man who has been traveling by a dog-drawn sledge across the ice. Frankenstein is emaciated and sick from the cold, and Walton takes him aboard ship. Walton helps nurse him back to health, and hears the fantastic tale of the creature that Frankenstein created. We will write a custom essay sample on Frankenstein and Robert Walton or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In Shelley’s novel â€Å"Frankenstein,† Robert Walton, Victor Frankenstein, and the creature are portrayed with parallels and contrasts regarding their ambition for intellectual pursuit and glory—performing acts of great destruction, selfishness, and conceit. Robert Walton and Victor Frankenstein are portrayed with parallels concerning their ambitiousness while causing fatal consequences. To begin with, Walton and Frankenstein are lonely—longing for friendship. At the beginning of the novel, Walton is desperate for a friend. In one of his letters to his sister, Walton says that when he does bathe in the joy of success, â€Å"there will be none to participate my joy† (8). Walton longs for a man with â€Å"tastes [are] like my own† (8). Frankenstein longs for a friend by creating his creature, which he hopes will â€Å"bless [me] as his creator and source† (34). Frankenstein wants to create his creature not only for companionship, but also for glory and godliness. Second, they are both guilty of hubris, which is extreme arrogance. Walton states in his letter to his sister that one of his goals for traveling to the Arctic is so that he can bring glory to his name; Victor hopes for the same for himself while creating his creature. Both men, because of their hubris, put others lives in danger unnecessarily. Finally, both thirst for discovery and knowledge and want to be the first who discover their goals while defying the laws of nature. Walton attempts to surpass previous human explorations by endeavoring to reach the North Pole. When he goes out to sea, however, he gets caught in a situation that he cannot escape. He and his crew are stuck between impenetrable sheets of ice, that close in on his ship day by day. Likewise, Frankenstein has a somewhat similar experience. Frankenstein possesses the knowledge of bringing the dead back to life. However, when he becomes utterly obsessed with his discovery, he does not know what to do when his creation comes alive. He flees from his apartment—leaving his creature in isolation, feeling unloved and misunderstood. Be that as it may, Robert Walton and Victor Frankenstein have contrasts regarding their ambition for discovery and knowledge. First, in the beginning of the novel, Walton feels irresolute about his journey, although he wishes to persist. In another one of his letters to his sister, Walton says that he â€Å"dare not expect such success† (10), yet he cannot even look on the â€Å"reverse of the picture† (10). Walton is even doubtful that he will receive his sister’s letters, yet he wants her to â€Å"write to [me] by every opportunity† (10). On the other hand, Frankenstein is not doubtful or vacillating about outcomes at all. Right when his interest is initiated, he forms a strong determination, and does not stop working towards his goal or doubt himself until he reaches it. No matter how much he isolates and shuns his family, friends, and surroundings, a â€Å"resistless and almost frantic impulse† (35) urges him forward. Second, at the end of the novel, Frankenstein’s â€Å"fate is nearly fulfilled† (17), while Walton’s journey is only beginning. Frankenstein fulfilled his destiny and made his creation despite his suffering and misfortunes. However, his influence on Walton is paradoxical. One moment, Frankenstein exhorts Walton’s almost-mutinous men to not stray from their path courageously, regardless of danger. The next, he serves as an abject example of the dangers of heedless scientific ambition. Walton serves as a foil to Victor, either not obsessive enough to risk almost-certain death or not courageous enough to allow his passion to drive him. Walton ultimately draws back from his treacherous mission and returns to England, having learned from Victor’s example how destructive the thirst for knowledge can be. Finally, Robert Walton and the creature are portrayed with parallels that regard their ambition for discovery and knowledge—eventually leading to destruction. Both feel that they do not fit into society, and therefore feel that they have to change something in order to fit in. In the opening letters, Walton doubts himself in finding a real friend, even among â€Å"merchants and seamen† (9). Therefore, he makes an effort to be accepted. Walton voluntarily endures â€Å"cold, famine, thirst, and want of sleep† (7) while devoting his nights to the â€Å"study of mathematics, the theory of medicine, and†¦physical science† (7). Although Walton is appointed a high position in his ship by the captain, he is still in longing for a true friend. Likewise, the creature is not able to fit into society. With his eight-foot-tall presence, â€Å"watery eyes, †¦[his] shriveled complexion, and straight black lips† (37), he is outcast from society and shunned. Therefore, he tries to make himself fit by learning the French language, observing the culture of â€Å"humans†, and reading great novels such as Paradise Lost and the Lives of Plutarch. However, after reading and studying, he is rejected by society simply because of his appearance.

Dangerous Business Response Essay Example

Dangerous Business Response Essay Example Dangerous Business Response Essay Dangerous Business Response Essay Dangerous Business Response I thought that the dangerous business video effectively spotlighted the varying approaches different companies use with regard to workplace and employee safety, and general ethical practices and dealings. I found the occurrences at McWane Incorporation to be quite fascinating, as I had no idea that some company’s workplace conditions were still so horrible in the United States today. I found it amazing that McWane was basically able to circumvent the law by barely meeting necessary standards, and by barely doing what they need to do to avoid heavy liabilities. Practices like those of Mcwane’s bring in to question whether sacrificing basic human safety in the way that Mcwane does is actually profitable. Well it is clear that for the economy as a whole that Mcwane’s, as well as there subsidiaries such as Tyler Pipe’s actions are quite detrimental. While their practices might help improve their bottom line, along they way they have destroyed lives and families, ultimately hurting the work force. While the practices and decision-making of McWane Incorporation are highly unethical, whether or not they should be allowed to do what they are doing is an entirely different question. I understand the approach taken by McWane executives: do whatever is necessary to turn a profit. When you think about the risks and competition associated with the business world today, this ideology and reasoning seems to be sound, however this does not take into consideration the long term and far reaching effects of neglecting the environment and basic human safety needs. Business managers today are under a lot of pressure to make their companies profitable by any means necessary, which is evident by Mcwane’s Discipline Management Practices. On the whole my main issue with McWane is that I believe that they could change their business practices and move to become a more ethically sound business, and still remain just as profitable. I would not have as much of an issue with their approach if it really truly was the most efficient and profitable way to run a business. However, when you look at the practices and successes of the American Cast Iron Pipe Company, is it very clear that this is not the case. The American Cast Iron Pipe Co. uns business in the same industry as Tyler Pipe, and uses similar equipment and machinery for many of their operations. The difference between the two companies is that Cast Iron Pipe Co. is able to run a profitable business and at the same time maintain a safe workplace and clean environmental record. Cast Iron also does not engage in some of the unethical practices of Tyler such as targeting ex-cons for employment to help offset turnover issues, or sending injured workers to incompetent med ical clinics. I feel like doing things such as improving the workplace and treating the environment better attract more workers, and also happier workers. Because more people want to work for ethical businesses like Cast Iron that run their business based on the Golden Rule, those companies have access to better employees. Also, those employees working for a company like Cast Iron Pipe are likely to do a better job because they are happier and have a sense of security. All in all â€Å"Dangerous Business† shows that cutting back on employee and workplace safety spending, and trying to save money by meeting the bare minimum environmental standards does not ultimately help a company, as these decisions have far reaching internal effects. Plain and simple unhappy employees who feel unsafe at work are not going to work up to their maximum potential because they are unhappy. I think that there should be stricter standards and penalties for unethical business practices, and I think there needs to be more enforcement of the laws.

Life Span Human Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Life Span Human Development - Essay Example Moreover, according to the Government of Saskatchewan (1999) there is also a multi-dimensional component insofar as the theory holds that there is a biological, cognitive, socio-emotional and spiritual dimension. From this perspective one could argue that a person could develop into a number of different paths owing to a number of different lifelong conditions. Without question the interaction of hereditary factors and the environment interplay with each other to produce differences in human development. According to Sigelman & Rider (2009) it is the case that one’s genes are patterned throughout our entire lifespan. Whilst many people have commonalities in the way we age and develop physiologically there remains a profound difference in the way we may develop on an individual basis. Some people may be more tall or short or perhaps athletic or sickly. These factors play a major influence on our development. Moreover, people put into different environments may develop different ly. For example people in an abusive environment may develop differently than people in a more nurturing environment. From this perspective there are a number of separate internalities and externalities that help shape who we are over the course of our life. References Government of Saskatchewan (1999) The Lifespan Perspective on Human Development.