Doping: A Sporting History

Abstract

(123). The author also drew a parallel with Mary Shelley’s own upbringing–both of Mary’s parents, Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin, emphasized the importance of environment on character. In this sense, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein shows the reader how people thought of ‘nature’ in the nature-versus-nurture debate and reminds them of the reality of living and dying in the early nineteenth century. Additionally, as Professor Ruston notes, Mary Shelley does not reveal how the Creature is made. This “absence of explanation allows us to read our own contemporary anxieties about science and technology through the novel” (62). Through the consequences of Victor’s experimentation, Mary Shelley’ Frankenstein questions whether scientific and medical progress justifies moral transgressions. Her novel allowed for the creation of a compelling story, one that continues to speak to people’s ambivalent feelings about the disruption and destruction new scientific inventions can bring to society. As Jon Turney (1998) noted “we are never going to be rid of Frankenstein even if we want to be. The story is too deeply embedded in our culture now not to leave its traces or raise echoes whenever we discuss our attitude to science and scientists” (Turney, 220). According to Skal (1998) Frankenstein “has become the dominant, if despairing, creation myth of modern times” (Skal, 57). Professor Ruston argues that Victor Frankenstein’s cold medical approach and lack of care for the ethics of the Creature is one of the most enduring influences that Mary Shelley’s novel has had on how people think of and feel about science and scientists. Professor Ruston’s careful analysis showcases why Frankenstein still feels relevant even after more than 200 years. From human and animal experimentation through cloning to artificial intelligence, science and technology are increasingly woven into the fabric of people’s daily lives, and there is a growing demand for a deeper understanding of the ethical issues surrounding scientific advancements. Professor Ruston’s work provides a vivid illustration of the potential dangers and risks of irresponsible scientific experimentations by connecting the emerging practice of scientific and medical research, just coming into view in Mary Shelley’s time, to older mythic traditions of alchemy, occult sciences, hubris, and forbidden knowledge. Given her evocative and engaging style, Professor Ruston’s book can inform not only academic professionals, but also college students and the public as well.