Answer :
Final answer:
Victor's exploration of alchemy and natural science is deeply tied to Romanticism, which values emotion, imagination, and a connection to the natural, mystical world, reflecting a critical view of industrial progression and rationality.
Explanation:
Victor learns about alchemy and natural science through intense study and chemical experimentation, indicative of a deep passion for understanding and potentially manipulating the forces of nature.
This interest in alchemy, alongside his awareness of the limitations and responsibilities that come with such knowledge, underscores some of the key characteristics of Romanticism, including the emphasis on emotion, the glorification of nature, and a skepticism of industrial progression. Specifically, in the context of alchemy, which Victor avidly studies, there is the persistent quest for both a universal solvent, believed to transform base metals into gold, and the elixir vitae, a potion for granting eternal life—these pursuits exemplify the Romantic fascination with the mysterious, the supernatural, and the limits of human endeavor.
Romanticism was characterized by a profound appreciation for the natural world, a critique of industrial influences, and a preference for emotion and imagination over scientific rationality. Victor's engagement with alchemy, a practice that historically blended the magical with the scientific, reflects the Romantic ideal of seeking understanding beyond the purely empirical, and entertaining the possibility that ancient wisdom could achieve what modern science could not. His endeavors fit snugly into the Romantic narrative as they showcase both the allure and the potential pitfalls of striving to exceed the natural order, a common theme in Romantic literature.
