When Mrs. McCourt first said that Prometheus and Frankenstein are related, I found it hard to believe because I didn’t see any obvious connections. However when I re-watched the movie while thinking about the themes and characters of Frankenstein, I saw many similarities despite that surprised me!…
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”).…
Both texts are eponymous, and in their titles, or subtitle, reveal the fate of the protagonist, suggesting almost immediately the dangers of aspiring beyond our limitations. The intertextual subtitle of Frankenstein - ‘The Modern Prometheus’ foreshadows Victor Frankenstein (VF) by doom; this reference is mirrored throughout the text, the more VF transgresses the norms of science which leads to his inevitable fall from grace as he is plunged into lunacy. This allusion to Paradise Lost within the epigraph suggests that the novels motif…
The novel Frankenstein is also called the modern Prometheus. The reason why the novels subtitle is called the modern Prometheus is because in Greek mythology, Prometheus was the titan who stole fire from god and gave it to man. Victor stole the secret of creation of life from god in a way because he created a being in the likeness of a man. He stole this ‘fire’ or power and bought it to man just like Prometheus did.…
Shelley heeds the destructive thirst for knowledge in the pursuit of superiority, foreshadowing the moral ramifications as a result of this unnatural intervention and disruption of both the physical nature and the innate spiritual self. The Promethean ambition possessed by man ultimately leads to loss of the essence of humanity in an attempt to usurp the natural order of the world. The connotation of the subtitle, “Modern Prometheus” foreshadows the heavenly retribution and consequences Victor Frankenstein has wrought upon himself in his obsessive quest for knowledge and power. His God-like transgression against nature through his ‘ardent desire for acquisition for knowledge’ unleashes a cycle of tragedy leading ultimately to his mortal downfall of mental and emotional instability. Shelley furthermore emphasises the cruelty of mankind when conscience and moral responsibility are abandoned through the symbolic creation of the Monster as the very condemnation of unchecked industrialized ‘progress’. The juxtaposition of the classical Promethean myth with the dystopic realm Victor Frankenstein has created is highlighted through the rejection of the Monster as ‘breathless horror and disgust filled [his] heart’, further underlining the moral irresponsibility Frankenstein has shown towards his…
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.…
Frankenstein written by Mary Shelley tells a tale of a man, Victor Frankenstein, who creates life but at a cost. Victor loses his health as he works to create life and ends up with a murdering creature at whom he can not bear to look. Frankenstein’s subtitle is The Modern Prometheus, for the very reason that the book heavily resembles the myth of Prometheus. Prometheus steals fire from Zeus to give to the humans but ends up chained to a rock. Both stories resemble each other because both Victor and Prometheus disobey the idea of things being only available to Gods and end up facing the consequences, as well as the references to fire.…
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…
Such is the subtitle that accompanies Mary Shelley’s classic, Frankenstein. We’ve all heard of the famous monster created by Dr. Victor Frankenstein. But, not many know why the story is subtitled, “Or, The Modern Prometheus”. In fact, many may not even make the connection to the story of the ancient Greek god who brought fire to humans, his own creation, and was eternally punished for it. However, rhetorical analysis reveals quite a few similarities between the characters, and proves Shelley’s subtitle to be accurate. Both stories deal with topics of overstepping limits, harsh consequences, and lessons learned, which contribute to the overall theme…
A theme of indifference and rejection from society clearly persists through the film Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, directed by Kenneth Branagh. After Victor Frankenstein, the main protagonist, realizes that reanimation is a tangible reality, a domino effect occurs which in turn alienates not only himself but also his creation from society. The reality of the creature's existence is so gruesome that one begins to understand the negative effects that alienation can have on one's own self-perceived identity. In fact, this estrangement from society perpetuates a downward spiral for the creature as he develops a mind that is unadulterated by moral behavior while also nurturing a strong desire for revenge. Not only does Frankenstein leave the creature to fend for itself, but society rejects it as well. The alienation from all of his surroundings, and his creator feeds the creature's desire for vengeance, ultimately resulting in the deaths of every that his creator Frankenstein held dear to his heart.…
When referring to the following quote stated by Harold Bloom, “The greatest paradox and most astonishing achievement of Mary Shelley’s novel is that the monster is more human than his creator.” I agree with his statement because it’s vivid to see that Victor lacked on some human characteristics such as emotions and feelings.…
Victor Frankenstein and the Creature appear to be completely different people. But their personalities it stands out that they are a mirror image of each other. The creature and Victor both share a strong love of knowledge but they can’t control their obsession with it so it often results in tragedy. Victor became obsessed with the science and creation of life. The Creature on the other hand became obsessed with humans. The creature observed a poor family that lived in a cottage and became obsessed with learning about them. The creature approaches the family trying to make friends and gets ran off for his looks and he learns that humans are quick to judge. The creature begins to grow a hate for humans because he realizes that he will never…
Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus, was first published anonymously January 1st, 1818. Although a work of gothic science fiction, Mary Shelly incorporated a multitude of sociological events that occurred between the late eighteen-century and the early nineteen-century; most specifically, the themes of this literary work and the characterization of the protagonist Victor Frankenstein, which integrate aspects that affected both Mary Shelly’s personal life and the European continent.…
In the novel Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein and his creation are analogous, but there are many differences between the two. Victor grew up with loving siblings and parents and they never denied him anything. The monster that Victor created was deserted by Victor to fight for himself, victor was more a monster than the creature. The monster is self-educated learning from watching from Delacy’s (“My days were spent in close attention, that I might more speedily master the language”. P 99) while Victor was taught in school (“When I had attained the age of seventeen my parents resolved that I should become a student at the University of Ingolstadt”. P 28), Victor was loved and had loved but the monster never experienced anything but hatred from everyone around him.…
Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Marilyn Butler. Frankenstein, or, The modern Prometheus. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994. Print.…