Immortality, as a whole, has definitely been portrayed by Shelley as a negative thing. One of our class discussions regarding this story took a turn toward relevance in modern day and the possible figurative interpretations of the word “immortality”. One of the topics discussed was legacy. Mary Shelly created a legacy for herself, through her stories and characters, some of whom have lasted throughout the last two centuries and still exist in our contemporary pop culture. The legacy of the 21st century largely relates to technology and innovation. It is very interesting the extents to which medical technology such as vaccines and antibiotics has extended life, but it also brings to concern, the price that mankind pays for these innovations. Cornelius’s innovation, the elixir that granted immortality, ultimately turned out to be Winzy’s most horrible curse. Although he was physically thriving, he was psychologically dead to the world. Winzy's situation has several relevant implications to contemporary society. Is a person in a physically and mentally vegetative state dependent on breathing machines and feeding tubes, really living? Ultimately, I don’t think any of these questions has a definite answer. There are pros and cons to every innovation and society will need to find the balance to finally be stable.