Interwoven Themes in Frankenstein

The book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is one of the few amazing books that is able to tie different themes together in just one event or situation. Some of Frankenstein’s themes include knowledge, pride, and revenge. Mary Shelley was able to link all those themes together in just one passage, a passage that contained one of the most important events in the entire book. It includes Victor’s first day at university where he met a professor, Mr. Krempe, who did not approve of his knowledge of natural science. The passage touched on Victor’s knowledge, or lack thereof, Victor’s pride was hurt when he was scorned, and then the idea that Victor might seek some sort of revenge against Mr. Krempe. The revenge Victor sought was not a physical revenge, but more of a proof of intelligence. Victor developed the creature to prove himself, therefore tying in the themes mentioned in the passage to the idea of the creature. This passage interwove the themes knowledge, pride, and revenge to culminate in the starting point of Victor’s desire to develop the creature.  
The passage touches on the theme of knowledge when Mr. Krempe reprimands Victor for his lack of sufficient expertise in the area of Natural Science. While knowledge of the real world is important, knowledge of one’s self can be equally or more important. Victor, when he visited “some of the principal professors (pg. 57),” was looking to prove himself as a knowledgeable person. However, when asked by Mr. Krempe about the studies he, had made previously pertaining to natural science, Victor responded with a nervous demeanor, actually described as trembling. “I mentioned, it is true, with fear and trembling, the only authors I had ever read upon these subjects (pg.57).” The act of trembling changes Victor’s confidant persona to a nervous and ill prepared annoyance. It gives away Victor’s self knowledge of lack of progress in the Natural Sciences, affirmed by his father’s reactions to the books he [Victor] read and...