Thursday, April 14, 2011

Luddite Movement and Frankenstein

Although they do not seem to relate, the Luddite Movement that occurred in 1811 and 1812 and a theme that shows in Frankenstein have something in common. In the novel, Mary Shelley warns the reader of the forbidden knowledge and fast changing science and its consequences. For instance, the result of Victor Frankenstein’s experiment of creating a new creature using dangerous science knowledge was absolute despair and ruin. Maybe the author wanted to tell the society to take a step back and consider the effects of newly introduced technology. In this sense, the Luddite Movement could be seen as the bad effect of new technology that was poured into the society without any term for the existing society to adjust to the changes. Because the Industrial Revolution made huge changes in such short notice, no one saw the bad consequences coming such as the emergence of poor working conditions and complaints of existing high-skilled workers.



This is a poster published in 1811 (I guess by the government?)
saying that 'evil-minded persons" who destroy the machines will be arrested
(Source: The Luddites )

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