Test Tube Baby

Test tube babies are another similar idea to Frankenstein in a sense that these beings were not conceived naturally. Frankenstein was created in a lab, and so were these babies. In vitro fertilization takes place where the egg is fertilized by the sperm outside of the body, then later transferred back into the uterus. More info at : http://history1900s.about.com/od/medicaladvancesissues/a/testtubebaby.htm

-Elana

The Good Used For Bad

One of the main topics in Frankenstein is how scientific knowledge can be used for no good. As we know Dr. Frankenstein scientific ambitions were to create a human. and he did. What came of it we all know. I saw a piece on "60 Minutes" about people who are dying were promised by medical conman that stem cells would cure any disease. While watching this I thought of how science can be used for something bad like in Frankenstein. In this case medical science was being used to deceive sick people.

Elie

Biology and Frankenstein

Victor Frankenstein was definitely inspired in the story by the studies of biology. He describes how the human frame and any animal endued with life garnered his interest. He wanted to know the causes of life and threw biological studies we can conclude he was able to create the being. Philosophies under biology such as the natural decay of the human body, death and life influenced him. He studied worms and other living beings to see what allowed them to survive and live, he also examined their body parts. After these studies victor gathered body parts and was able to incredibly create life. Another interesting topic under biology is evolution, we can conclude he perhaps wanted to create a being far more evolved then us, since his creation had super speed, was large and had more learning ability then an average person.

By Ronald Delio Rodriguez 4/8/10

Alchemy Shaped Chemistry

Dr. Frankenstein took a great interest in alchemy growing up. When he attended Ingolstadt he was told by his professor that studying alchemy was a waste of time. But was it a waste of time? Alchemists tried to turn base metals into gold. Although they were unsuccessful, it is very impressive idea to experiment with considering the little knowledge of atoms and elements at that time. It is because people think "outside the box" that they come up with new discoveries. Because of all their effort they happened to produce inorganic acids, techniques of fusion, calcination, solution, filtration, crystallization, sublimation, and distillation. Read more: http://www.chemistryexplained.com/Te-Va/Transmutation.html#ixzz0ixGyBbAu
Also, Alchemists' ideas were not completely ridiculous. Some radioactive elements do actually transform into different elements. Radioactive decay causes the nucleus to emit energy, sometimes they emit a proton. A change in the number of protons yields a change in element. We may not be able to change base metals into gold, but I believe alchemists were on the right track.
-Elana

Mythology Inspires and Creates

The story of Frankenstien draws a lot of comparission to Galatea a statue from the greek mythology of Metamorphoses X. The myth talks about how aphrodite brought the statue of Galatea to life for Pygmalion. Aftering seening woman prositute themselves he could not fall in love he made this statue admiring its beauty gave up all his time and bought it gifts until Aprhodite out of pity brought it to life. Much like Dr. Frankenstein who gave up all his time to creating the monster, he seeked a companion an did all he could to obtain it.Its very possible Mary Shelley was inspired by this tale as well since it featured an inadmit object becoming lifely and seeking compansionship as the man in the tale who eventually married the once statue and had a child with it. Frankensteins creation also seeked a companion different from the rest, it contrast the tale in that he was rejected when he came to life while the statue was all that Pygmalion ever wanted when he created it.
By Ronald Delio Rodriguez EN102

A Modern Twist

Frankenstein is also referred to as The Modern Prometheus. Reading Frankenstein I kept on wondering what exactly is The Modern Prometheus. Well, it is a Greek Myth where Prometheus created mankind. He also secretly stole fire from heaven and gave it to man. What Mary Shelley did was create man through a modern level with electricity.

An Interesting Secret

The famous scientist Sir Isaac Newton was born on January 4 and died on March 31 1727. He was a English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian. What is so interesting is that he was at the time a secret alchemist. Being a scientist you look for reasons and explanations to your findings. As a alchemist you believed in magic and the search of the philosopher's stone which would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely. This is a belief in the supernatural, as we know that living forever is not possible. A man of modern science and a natural philosopher you don't rely on the use of "magic" in your scientific findings.