The society and community Essay Example for Free

The society and community Essay Once again, this reason leads the two characters to artificial creation and problems for society. The need for perfection shown by both Frankenstein and Swinton in the books is another reason that drives them to create artificial life. Frankenstein wants to rid the world of disease, and Swinton wishes to continue the illusion of a perfect world in order for his products to continue to sell. This need for perfection backfires considerably. For example, the creature in Frankenstein is far from physically perfect, therefore he gets shunned by society, which is one of the contributing factors to his murders: Am I to be thought the only criminal when all human kind sinned against me? Why do you not hate Felix who drove his friend from his door with contumely? Why do you not execrate the rustic who sought to destroy the saviour of his child? Nay, these are virtuous and immaculate beings! I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked and trampled on. Says the creature when considering his position. This shunning leads to the creature feeling jealous and angry, not to mention self-critical: accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust? God, in pity made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours. Which in turn provokes him into the murders: when I became fully convinced that I was in reality the monster that I am, I was filled with the bitterest sensations of despondence and mortification. Therefore, the need for perfection is a way in which science has negative affects on individuals in society. However, Frankensteins need for perfection is lost at some stages during the novel. For example, Frankensteins shunning of his creation is far from perfect. This is another way in which science has a negative effect on society. For example, the shunning of the creation leads the creation to the murders of Frankensteins nearest and dearest in order for retribution of his abandonment. For example: and what was I? Of my creation and creator I was absolutely ignorant; but I knew that I possessed no money, no friends, no kind of property. This point is also apparent in Supertoys by the rejection of malfunctioning units. For example, the butler in the Swinton household breaks down and David says Throw it away, and well get a new one. This shows the need for perfection in the world and the throwaway attitude that is apparent. This has consequences in that it takes away peoples bare humanity. For example, David is thrown to the reject world ultimately although he was a person who could have been loved. A contributing factor that provokes the characters into furthering science is the families behind the characters. Frankensteins family encourages him to further his knowledge of alchemy, which is linked to artificial creation. Frankenstein also creates the monster because he wants a companion: No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirs. which is linked into the loneliness of the world in Supertoys. In Supertoys, David, has no real family after his creation, this is another problem that is caused by science, and directly relevant to the creation of artificial intelligence that is not loved as though flesh and blood would be. This aspect is linked to the need for love shown by many characters in both stories. Frankenstein, his monster, David, Henry and certainly Monica all show how much they need love. For example: He loves you says Teddy regarding Davids affection for Monica. This need for love drives certain characters to create artificial life, to fill a void. This may be because of unfelt love from their families. For example, Frankenstein begins to feel disjointed from his family after moving to university. The consequence of the need for love is the creation of artificial life, which then in turn needs to be loved. However, in both novels, the artificial life form is not loved. This is what creates the negative affects on society. Another way in which science has a negative effect on individuals in society is the effect the creations have on the creators. For example, throughout Frankenstein, Frankenstein is afraid of his creation and what he might do. Frankenstein cannot care for his creation and spends his whole life in fear. For a large part of his life Frankenstein is forced to follow his creation, in a vain attempt to banish him from society due to the problems he is causing. This pursuit eventually kills him. This can be blamed on himself easily, for he is the one who used science irresponsibly and the consequences backfired upon him. However, this is still a negative effect on society caused by science. Similarly, Henry, eventually, labours to reacquaint himself with David. This comes about after his sense of guilt after abandoning his child. However, these psychological problems are not as important as the prejudices that the new technology brings forward, particularly in Supertoys. This can be explained further by saying that the humans in the artificial world are prejudiced towards the perfect world, and perfect people. What would happen if somebody came along who wasnt perfect? For example, David. David was imperfect in that he was an android and technically he was malfunctioning. Because of this, he was thrown on the scrap heap. This is a problem caused by technology, because it created the prejudices by creating a world where everything is perfect and seamless, nothing is real. Overall, the main scourges of the societies in both books are the artificial creatures and therefore, the creators of these monsters. The creation in Frankenstein shows how science can be used irresponsibly to have negative effects on individuals in society through tactical murder and destruction. The creations in Supertoys show how science can have a negative effect on society by creating social divides, a superficial, prejudiced, fake, lonely, ignorant, arrogant, selfish, inconsiderate, narrow-minded and insecure world in which nothing is solid. The books can be linked to Genesis and Paradise Lost in that they all involve creation, that was well intended but did not turn out as expected. In all four novels the creation was given a world, or habitat, but either they abused it, or inadvertently caused suffering for other members of the community. The authors use the characters of Frankensteins monster and David accompanied by the society and community by the two worlds of the two novels to show how science can be used irresponsibly to have negative effects on society and the individuals within it.