Scientists throughout literature have been white males of young or middle age. They typically keep to themselves, locked up in their laboratories, poring over steaming beakers and eschewing nourishment and hygiene while frantically experimenting in a growing obsession with an always elusive discovery or invention. Often these discoveries or inventions border on alchemy, magic or other fantastical concepts contrary to the laws of nature.
Archetypal scientists are geniuses; they have stumbled upon some discovery every other scientist before them has staunchly declared impossible. Dr. Frankenstein finds a way to create life, Dr. Moreau finds a way to humanize animals and Dr. Dodgson finds a way to clone dinosaurs. However, their passion for their discovery shadows their consideration of its looming dangers.
The success of these discoveries always depends on the sacrifice of ethics. Dr. Frankenstein's ethical flaw is his attempt to play God by creating life from nothing. Dr. Moreau's experiments involve mutilating animals and playing with the distinction between humans and animals. Sometimes scientists struggle internally with these moral dilemmas, often rationalizing their ambitions to themselves to relieve their consciences.
Unfortunately, these scientific discoveries and inventions ultimately backfire. The scientists achieve success, only to find they have created monsters, as in the cases of Dr. Jekyll, Dr. Frankenstein, Dr. Moreau and Dr. Dodgson. In all stories, the monsters these scientists create cause an immense amount of death and suffering, to the scientists themselves not excepting. In the end, the scientists must come to terms with the consequences of their ambitions. No plots allow for the monsters to continue living; generally they must all die, sometimes along with their creators.