Reflections 2011: A Genres Syndication Blog

For my essay, I have chosen the theme of “true beauty”- inner vs. outer beauty.

“Wisdom means having the moral will to do right by other people and to have the moral skill to figure out what doing right means.”

- Professor Barry Schwartz, Professor of Social Theory and Social Action at Swathmore college.

This quote connects to Frankenstein because Victor does not really understand what it means to do morally right things. When Victor creates the creation, he does not help other people by doing the right thing (not creating the creation). Victor also does not have the moral skill to help the monster and he turns his back on it instead.

Frankenstein and his creation both originally had “the moral will to do right by other people.” However, neither of them had “the moral skill to figure out what doing right means.”Frankenstein wanted to help people in order to achieve glory, instead of just for the sake of being good. He acted without thinking and created a new form of living being. He then lost “”the moral will to do right by other people” since he refused to think if his creation as a person. He gained it back later when he consented to create a companion for his creation, but then was also faced with the possible consequences on the human race. When faced with this choice, he didn’t have “the moral skill to figure out what doing right means,” and eventually caused the destruction of himself, his creation, and everything he held dear. The creation also had the will to help people, and had no malice within him. However, he was motivated by a desire to be accepted, and as he was unable to do this, he eventually became a monster. His thoughts became solely those of revenge and he completely lost sight of “what doing right means.” He eventually lost the will to do so.

“Wisdom means having the moral will to do right by other people and to have the moral skill to figure out what doing right means.” – Professor Barry Schwartz

To me this quote means that the most successful people in life are those that can find a path on which they can please other people but also do what is right, just, and appropriate in society because then they will find success that benefits not only themselves but the people around them and that is quite an accomplishment. I also think that this has to do with your mental state because “doing what is right” has a different meaning to different people based on how they view what is right.

“Wisdom means having the moral will to do right by other people and to have the moral skill to figure out what doing right means.” – Professor Barry Schwartz

To me this quote means that the most successful people in life are those that can find a path on which they can please other people but also do what is right, just, and appropriate in society because then they will find success that benefits not only themselves but the people around them and that is quite an accomplishment. I also think that this has to do with your mental state because “doing what is right” has a different meaning to different people based on how they view what is right.

The quote “Wisdom means having the moral will to do right by other people and to have the moral skill to figure out what doing right means” applies greatly to the book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Throughout the entire book, Victor Frankenstein has been trying to figure out exactly what he has to do to make things right after the birth of his creation, when he abandons him. Too little, too late does he realize what his neglect would bring, ultimately ending in his death. All along, he had the desire to make things normal, right, and happy again, but he could never find one way that would please himself, the creation, and humanity. In the end he chose the option that would save the human race and hurt the creation, but we also see how the creation’s decisions ended in his own death as well.

“Wisdom means having the moral will to do right by other people and to have the moral skill to figure out what doing right means.” When I hear this quote, I immediately think of Frankenstein. The first part, about doing right by others, is exactly the opposite of what he did for the creation. Had he taken responsibility for the creation and given it a chance, the creation wouldn’t have had to learn on its own and develop a hatred towards Frankenstein and mankind. The creation even gave Frankenstein a chance and told him what doing the right thing would be (creating a female companion for him) but Frankenstein eventually refused. So Frankenstein may have been intelligent but certainly not wise. Had Frankenstein chosen to try and do the right thing towards the creation, whether or not it had turned out to actually be the right thing, he would have been one step closer to being wise.

“Wisdom means having the moral will to do right by other people and to have the moral skill to figure out what doing right means.” When I hear this quote, I immediately think of Frankenstein. The first part, about doing right by others, is exactly the opposite of what he did for the creation. Had he taken responsibility for the creation and given it a chance, the creation wouldn’t have had to learn on its own and develop a hatred towards Frankenstein and mankind. The creation even gave Frankenstein a chance and told him what doing the right thing would be (creating a female companion for him) but Frankenstein eventually refused. So Frankenstein may have been intelligent but certainly not wise. Had Frankenstein chosen to try and do the right thing towards the creation, whether or not it had turned out to actually be the right thing, he would have been one step closer to being wise.

“Wisdom means having the moral will to do what is right by other people and have the moral skill to figure out what doing right means.” – Professor  Barry Schwarts

With this quote comes a lot of meaning. It says that a person can have the ability to do something right by other people but the part that really takes consideration is what it means to do right by the people. There is a vast contrast from the needs of one person to the needs of many people. And having the knowledge and will to know what the collective goal of the people is can make every decision in a single person’s life much more important. This relates to Frankenstein because Victor really never considered what the people would think about the creation. Thus, due to his lack of will to know what doing right means, horrible things ensued form the shunning of the creature that was never wanted in the first place.

“Wisdom means having the moral will to do what is right by other people and have the moral skill to figure out what doing right means.” – Professor  Barry Schwarts

With this quote comes a lot of meaning. It says that a person can have the ability to do something right by other people but the part that really takes consideration is what it means to do right by the people. There is a vast contrast from the needs of one person to the needs of many people. And having the knowledge and will to know what the collective goal of the people is can make every decision in a single person’s life much more important. This relates to Frankenstein because Victor really never considered what the people would think about the creation. Thus, due to his lack of will to know what doing right means, horrible things ensued form the shunning of the creature that was never wanted in the first place.