Egoism is characterized by an exaggerated evaluation of one's intellect, abilities, importance and appearance. It is practiced by placing yourself at the center of your world. In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus, Shelley seeks to convey her idea of ​​the selfish archetype as it relates to the ideals of the Enlightenment period, a period she views as self-centered. Shelley sees arrogance in Enlightenment philosophers testing the limits of human understanding and attempting to simplify the ambiguities of nature. It asserts that it is selfish of man to believe that he can completely dominate the understanding of human experience. In the novel, Victor Frankenstein embodies the Enlightenment philosophers as a man possessed by a drive to understand the laws of human creation, a drive that is considered far beyond the limits of human knowledge. Therefore, Shelley makes a point of pointing out Victor's obvious failure as he creates a monster who becomes the cause of destruction. Mary Shelley attaches symbolic meaning to Frankenstein's heroic characters and types to depict man as selfish in his attempt to exploit his understanding of nature. Shelley communicates the selfishness she finds in Enlightenment principles through Victor Frankenstein. Enlightenment principles commend us for being an autonomous and independent entity. It is in this spirit that she speaks of a man who gives birth without a woman. In doing so, Shelley compares the creature, the baby, to Adam and Victor to God. When the creature confronts Victor, it says, “How dare you play with life like this?” Do your duty to me, and I will do mine to you and the rest of humanity. If you comply with my conditions, I will leave the... middle of paper ......mention. " The English Review September 2009: 28+. Literature Resource Center. Web. November 26, 2011. “Frankenstein.” Novels for Students Featuring Analysis, Context, and Reviews on Commonly Studied Novels. Ed Diane Telgen Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale Research, 1997. Print.Kestner, Joseph "Narcissism as Symptom and Structure: The Case of Frankenstein. by Mary Shelley. " Frankenstein. Ed. Fred Botting. London: Macmillan, 1995. 68-80. Rpt. in nineteenth-century literary criticism. Ed. Jessica Bomarito and Russell Whitaker. Vol. 170. Detroit: Gale, 2006. Center for literary resources. Web November 25, 2011. Mellor, Anne K., “Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley.” Ed. David Scott Kastan Vol 4. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc., 2006. .Shelley, Mary Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus: SoHoBooks, 2011..