The obsessive pursuit of knowledge, fame and fortune can often undervalue one's life and become the main focus of one's existence. In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, she shows that obsession is a dangerous aspect of human behavior, which always results in a negative outcome, this is mainly portrayed through the protagonist of the story, Doctor Victor Frankenstein, due to the obsessive personality of Doctor Frankenstein. he fails to recognize the effects of his scientific experiments which ultimately lead to his and his family's death. As the doctor takes a look at his early childhood, his earliest memories include those of "Curiosity, earnest pursuit to learn the hidden laws of nature, happiness akin to rapture, as revealed to me, are among the first sensations I can to remember” (Shelley 22). Very early in Dr. Frankenstein's life he was curious about science, his desire to reveal the "hidden laws of nature" is like a seed that then grows to the point that later in his life it becomes the his obsession with finding the cure for mortality. Once he begins the work of creating the monster, he often remains sleepless and becomes increasingly weaker due to the long hours he puts in. He states: "Every night I was burdened by a slow fever and became painfully nervous" (Shelley 42). The reader has now witnessed the transformation of his appetite for scientific discovery into a self-obsessed desire for acclaim and recognition. This provides a perfect example of his obsession since it is so focused on his work he begins to ignore his family and his worsening mental and physical well-being. He knows that the religious and scientific communities would disapprove of his experiment; this creates nervousness… middle of the paper… they happen to “undertake my unfinished work, and I renew this request just now, when I am moved only by reason and virtue” (Shelley 207). Even on his deathbed he still wants to achieve his goal of killing the creature. Some of his last words serve to convey his mission to the ship's captain. After the loss of nearly all of his family, he now feels the same bloodlust that the monster has felt since the beginning. Victor Frankenstein is blind to the consequences of his scientific experimentation due to his overly obsessive personality. Mary Shelley's story serves as a cautionary tale against the harmful powers of obsession. The search for knowledge, recognition and prosperity can lead them down a very dangerous path and distance them from what really matters in their life. Works Cited Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Bantam Books, 1981. Print