What does fire symbolize in Frankenstein?

• A. Friendship and community
• B. Power and control
• C. Knowledge and destruction
• D. Immortality

Answer: (C)

Fire in Frankenstein stands for knowledge and the consequences that follow from pursuing it. It lights the way to discovery—Victor’s drive to understand life and his attempt to master nature—marking how human intellect can empower us. Yet that same force can devastate: the creation of the Monster brings immense suffering, and the flames tied to revenge and catastrophe show how unchecked ambition can ruin lives. Fire also provides warmth and safety to the Creature, underscoring its double nature as life-sustaining and dangerous. That double-edged symbol is why it best represents knowledge and destruction. The other options don’t fit as well, since friendship and community aren’t what fire primarily signifies, immortality isn’t a focal theme, and any sense of power or control is ultimately tied to knowledge itself rather than the symbol alone.