O transumanismo em Frankenstein de Mary Shelley e seus desdobramentos em Philip K. Dick e Max Barry

Abstract

The thesis is about the presence of transhumanism in the literatures of the English language, notably in the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley. Although it was published in 1818, this work stands apart as a mark in the history of literature for a number of reasons. Besides being considered by many scholars one of the first novels in the incipient genre of science fiction, we deem it an equally important book for presenting features that would be noticed in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries in what we call transhumanism. It is a cultural and intellectual movement that supports the ethical use of technology and of sciences to improve the human condition. The scientist Victor Frankenstein was imbued with these principles upon beginning his studies at Ingolstadt. Throughout the following centuries the technologies at man s disposal were perfected, but the intentions of enhancing the quality of life were kept. The mechanization of the human body, its ciborgization and search for longevity and immortality started to become the preoccupations of new authors, as in the analyzed works of Philip K. Dick and Max Barry, Do androids dream of electric sheep and Machine man.