Preview

Frankenstein

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
680 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Frankenstein
Don't challenge God’s almighty power. Live your life and obey God. Victor Frankenstein challenges God’s power. He creates a living creature, a true monster. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein becomes a modern Prometheus by creating his monster.
If you compare Victor Frankenstein to Prometheus, you will see that there are some common elements between him and the Titan. Like him Frankenstein goes too far and does not accept his own limits. Frankenstein has a little bit of the “creative fire of heaven” and learns to give life to a selfmade body. He tries to be something like God, like a big creator and creates his own man. His dream is to shape a whole species which would bless him, a species of wonderful and happy natures. “A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me.” (Shelley 38) But with the fulfillment of his dream Victor Frankenstein breaks through the limits of society and falls in deep isolation. As Prometheus, who was, after being tied up to his rock, alone with the sea and the weather, Frankenstein feels left out by society. Even if he makes this isolation himself, nobody knows anything about his creation, he cannot run away from it.
From this point of view Frankenstein has a lot in common with the classic Prometheus, the dream and the creation of a new species, and the disregard of limits. But on the other hand Frankenstein is quite different from Prometheus. When the Titan recognizes that his human beings do not know how to use their capabilities, for example they do not see anything although they are able to see and they do not hear anything although they are able to hear, he takes care of his creatures, he teaches them to observe the stars, to read and write and to heal. And when Zeus refuses to give them fire, Prometheus exposes himself to danger to bring them fire. Victor Frankenstein on the other hand refuses his responsibility and flees from his creature after

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Composed during the Industrial Revolution at a time of increased scientific experimentation, Shelley warns and forebodes her enlightened society of the consequences which come about from playing god. She uses Victor Frankenstein as her platform, whose self-exalting line “many excellent natures would owe their being to me” represents a society engrossed with reanimation. Recurring mythical allusions to Prometheus, “how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge” portray Victor as a tragic hero; a noble character whose “fatal flaw” of blind ambition ultimately results in his own downfall and dehumanization, “swallowed up every habit of my nature”. In addition, Victor’s impulsive rejection of his grotesque creation, leads to the Monster’s rebellion (“vowed eternal hated and vengeance to all mankind”).…

    • 626 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Foster explains that in this chapter “It’s all Greek to Me” that the use of mythology is a way for authors to appeal to the reader if they do not believe in biblical approaches. It is in a way a much easier approach to understanding where the author is coming from. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; she uses a more mythological approach to the relationship between Frankenstein and the monster. In mythology Prometheus created man, so in this case Frankenstein is Prometheus and his monster is his creation; “I ardently wished to extinguish that life which I had so…

    • 345 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    frankenstein

    • 484 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Prometheus, according to Greek mythology, was the Titan who created mankind. A task given to him by Zeus, he was to create human beings with clay and water in the image of the gods. Prometheus taught man to read, heal their sickness, and to hunt. Zeus kept fire from mankind but Prometheus stole the fire from Zeus and gave it to the humans against direct domands. Zeus then punished him by fixing him to a rock of Caucasus where each day an eagle would peck out his liver, only for it to grow back the next day because of his immortality as a god. Prometheus was also a myth told in from clay and water against the laws of nature. Much like Victor and his creation of man against the laws of nature, in which they both end up punished for their creations. Prometheus and Frankenstein are similar in many ways, such as their actions and results of creating humans. But they are also very different in personality.…

    • 484 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The pursuit of scientific knowledge and advancement has led man to challenge established values and assume an omnipotent role, often without forethought to the subsequent consequences. Both Tyrell and Frankenstein assume powers of the divine in their respective texts. Each of the characters in the creator roles are portrayed as being isolated from the world and therefore judged as being insufficient to hold divine power. Frankenstein is derivative of the ‘Promethean Myth’ with Victor challenging the role of nature and consequently being punished for his…

    • 910 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Victor Frankenstein and his monster are thought to be very different, but they share many of the same qualities and experiences. Throughout the novel Victor and the monster slowly become more and more alike. Many similarities develop as the story progresses. The two characters are thought to be very different but reveal that they have experienced many similar things that shape their life. Victor Frankenstein and his monster are both viewed as outcasts in society, they have been abandoned in some way, and they have good intentions in the things that they do.…

    • 1131 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    frankenstein

    • 1166 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The pursuit of knowledge is at the heart of Frankenstein, as Victor attempts to surge beyond accepted human limits and access the secret of life. Likewise, Robert Walton attempts to surpass previous human explorations by endeavoring to reach the North Pole. This ruthless pursuit of knowledge, of the light (see “Light and Fire”), proves dangerous, as Victor’s act of creation eventually results in the destruction of everyone dear to him, and Walton finds himself perilously trapped between sheets of ice. Whereas Victor’s obsessive hatred of the monster drives him to his death, Walton ultimately pulls back from his treacherous mission, having learned from Victor’s example how destructive the thirst for knowledge can be.Monstrosity…

    • 1166 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein and the monster that he creates are very similar. Frankenstein being a great man had his wants and needs even though he studied things that people thought to be ungodly and just wrong. Frankenstein creates the monster to be like himself although the monster has super human strength and is almost eight feet tall. Victor worked very hard trying to create the monster not noticing that he was creating the monster in his image.…

    • 998 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Most people are so different from one another that they don’t realize that they have so much in common. Just like how the monster is different from Victor in the book Frankenstein. Today we are not going to talk about how they are different, today we will go into the similarities of the two. As you know that if you read the book you will find out things that are pretty interesting about the two characters. One instance Victor Frankenstein was the man that created the monster, but yet he has not got any control over the monster, Victor is scared that the monster will retaliate against him if he tries to exert any type of control over the monster. Victor throughout the whole story has been tracking down the monster before it brings more damage…

    • 1493 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein and his horrid creation had various aspects in common that one might not notice. Despite the fact that the two parted ways they still shared parallel similarities between one another. These similarities would eventually lead to the downfall of both characters in the end of the novel due to the choices they made throughout the book.…

    • 788 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Victor Frankenstein was obsessed with unlocking the “mysteries of creation”. He expresses this by saying, “I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet.”For Frankenstein, this is an immoral act that goes against all the laws of nature, as he is in no position to be performing this practice. He is overstepping his limits as a mortal by performing the action of an immortal; essentially, he’s “playing God”. Shelley uses this as an allusion to the Legend of Prometheus. Prometheus was affectionate of his creation, man. For them, he stole fire from the heavens and gifted it to them, much to Zeus’s dismay. Here as well, Prometheus overstepped his limits by taking from a higher deity, just as Frankenstein did in a different way. Shelley uses this allusion to show that both characters have gone farther than their morals dictate, both through the underlying theme of creation. Blinded by their ambition towards creation, they both went against the laws of nature; Frankenstein through the actual practice of creation, and Prometheus through gifting the fire. By overstepping their limits, both Frankenstein and Prometheus have set themselves up for some severe repercussions to their…

    • 865 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Victor Frankenstein, the main character of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has allowed his desire for power to determine his actions. Frankenstein became obsessed with the ability to create life, believing that if he can possess the knowledge to successfully do so, he will be challenging the ideals of faith and science. Frankenstein’s desire to have power over others has caused him to create a monster and bring danger into the world. Although Frankenstein’s definition of true power stems from the understanding of science and life, his journey to possess this knowledge inevitably led to his ultimate demise. Victor Frankenstein’s desire for power is fueled by his lack of concern for legal issues, his troubled past that led to the creation of the monster, and the inability to overcome his hubris.…

    • 629 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Victor Frankenstein and his creation are very much alike. Both are abandoned by their creators at a young…

    • 992 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Frankenstein paper

    • 1247 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Mary Shelley's Frankenstein explores the downfall of certain human characteristics, set to the backdrop of creation, destruction, and preservation. The subtitle denoted by Shelly herself supports this idea, by relating the fact that the title can be viewed as either Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus. Shelly uses the story of the main character, Victor Frankenstein, to produce the concept of a dooming human characteristic of which Frankenstein states, "I have . . . been blasted in these hopes"(Shelley, 152). The reader finds, as a result of his thirst for knowledge and passion with science, Victor creates a living being by whom he has "suffered great and unparalleled misfortunes"(Shelley, 17). Eventually, Victor realizes this self-destructive trait, but he is not able to save himself stating, "I have lost everything, and cannot begin life anew"(Shelley, 16). Although everything in his life that is dear has been lost, Victor is able to convince one in his same position, Robert Walton, to not "lead [his crew] unwillingly to danger"(Shelley, 151). While addressing the concept of characteristic and self-discovery, it is possible to realize that the monster also possesses the characteristics held by both Victor and Walton; except in his learning, the monster is driven to continue to cause destruction. Most important about the thirst for knowledge is that, as a form of human characteristic or downfall, it leads to large, critical pieces of self-discovery. In obtaining these critical pieces, Frankenstein finds satisfaction in justification for his actions and Robert Walton learns of self-preservation, while the monster is merely pushed farther and farther into hatred.…

    • 1247 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein there are a lot of examples of how she is warning the readers about the perils of modern science. One of the biggest examples is the creator of Frankenstein, and Frankenstein himself. The fact that someone was taking the role of “god”, and trying to create life is a very scary factor in life. If someone of our kind can gain the power to create their own human life from machines, science, and electricity then they could have the ultimate power. Power is something that all human kind wants to achieve, but also fear. Power goes along with the perils of modern science, which Mary Shelley warns the readers about.…

    • 563 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Ap Frankenstein

    • 600 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The subtitle of Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, is “The Modern Prometheus.” Prometheus was a figure from Greek mythology who stole fire from the gods and used it to create humans. Based on your knowledge of this myth, construct an essay in which you defend or refute the idea that Victor is the modern Prometheus. Incorporate specific, concrete evidence from the novel to support your arguments. Be sure to dig beneath the surface similarities between the myth and Shelley’s novel in order to identify latent symbols and their significance.…

    • 600 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays