Ambition and overreach in scientific endeavors

• In Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein’s unbridled ambition drives him to transcend the limits of natural creation by animating life. His obsessive pursuit of knowledge blinds him to the moral consequences of his actions, as he arrogantly declares, "A new species would bless me as its creator and source."
• Victor's hubris mirrors the Enlightenment-era fascination with mastering nature, but Shelley critiques this through the tragic consequences that follow. The creature, abandoned by its creator, becomes a symbol of science conducted without ethical foresight.
• In Never Let Me Go, scientific ambition manifests not through an individual's hubris but through a societal structure that normalizes the cloning of humans for organ donation. The existence of Hailsham, a school that ostensibly nurtures the clones, reflects a veneer of ethical justification for these practices.
• However, as the students gradually learn their true purpose, the narrative exposes the moral blindness of a society willing to sacrifice individual autonomy for the supposed greater good.
• Both texts highlight how scientific ambition, unchecked by ethical consideration, can lead to profound suffering.
• "I pursued nature to her hiding-places." (Victor highlights his relentless ambition to uncover nature's secrets.)
• "Learn from me… how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge." (Victor’s reflection serves as a warning about the dangers of overreaching ambition.)
• "We were just another part of how the world worked, and if that meant we could have decent lives, it was up to us to make that happen." (Kathy’s resignation reflects society’s normalization of exploitative scientific practices.)
• "We took away your art because we thought it would reveal your souls." (Miss Emily’s admission underscores how science treats clones as objects rather than sentient beings.)