What does the quote from chapter 4, frankenstein mean?

I don’t know why I’m answering this. I’m no genius, obviously, but I remember reading this book.

The idea is that Dr. Frannkenstein tried to acquire the knowledge of how to create life by doing research on dead human beings. Kind of a godlike ambition. Although he succeeded, he created a monster which eventually destroyed his family and him too, in the end. What is being said in the quote is that the doctor is warning others that it is dangerous to acquire some types of knowledge and you are happier living in your everyday ordinary world and assuming that the rest of the world is like that too.

I suppose some people today might say something like that about stem cell research. (Personally, I don’t see it that way, but that’s not the point. You don’t have to agree with what Dr. Frankenstein is saying to explain it. Remember, this was written as a horror story to scare people.)

As for the part about one’s town, you could give an example of someplace like, say, Akron, Ohio. If you live there your whole life you won’t learn much about the world, but the idea is that by staying ignorant and not trying to learn more, you’re happier. Again, it’s a horror story so you don’t have to agree with the idea.