Is Frankenstein the Modern Day Prometheus - 1302 Words

Running head: IS FRANKENSTEIN THE MODERN DAY PROMETHEUS? Is Frankenstein the modern day Prometheus? Irvin M. Beacham Jr. ENC 1101 Dr. Gaspar Is Frankenstein the modern day Prometheus? When Mary Shelly wrote her 1818 classic Frankenstein, she subtitled it â€Å"The Modern Prometheus.† She compared the character of Dr. Victor Frankenstein a highly intelligent scientist to the Greek Titan Prometheus the wisest of the Titans. There are numerous parallels between Dr. Frankenstein and Prometheus which could be the reason why Mary Shelly subtitled her novel â€Å"The Modern Prometheus†. Dr. Frankenstein and Prometheus both create a male human being, they both sought glory from their creations, and they†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"When I was thirteen years of age, we all went on a party of pleasure to the baths near Thonon: the inclemency of the weather obliged us to remain a day confined to the inn. In this house I chanced to find a volume of the works of Cornelius Agrippa. I opened it with apathy; the theory which he attempts to demonstrate, and the wonderful facts which he relates, soon changed this feeling into enthusiasm. A new light seemed to dawn upon my mind; and, bounding with joy, I communicated my discovery to my father. When I returned home, my first care was to procure the whole works of this author, and afterwards of Paracelsus and Albertus Magnus. I read and studied the wild fancies of these writers with delight; they appeared to me treasures known to few beside myself. † (Chapter 2) Victor attends college at an early age and surpasses the knowledge of his classmates and instructor. â€Å"When I had attained the age of seventeen, my parents resolved that I should become a student at the University of Ingolstadt.† (Chapter 3) â€Å"As I applied so closely, it may be easily conceived that my progress was rapid. My ardour was indeed the astonishment of the students, and my proficiency that of the masters.† (Chapter 4) â€Å"I made some discoveries in the improvement ofShow MoreRelatedShelleys Use of the Modern Prometheus as a Subtitle to the Novel1178 Words   |  5 PagesShelleys Use of the M odern Prometheus as a Subtitle to the Novel The idea of the Modern Prometheus is important in the novel in many ways as Frankenstein is widely known as being the Modern Prometheus. In having said this, Frankenstein is called the modern day Prometheus as he stole from God something that was not meant to be known by humans and animated his idea with science and modern day technology. Also, just like Prometheus, Frankenstein and mankind were punishedRead MoreMary Shelley s Frankenstein And The Modern Prometheus871 Words   |  4 Pagesnovel is Frankenstein; or the Modern Prometheus. So it shouldn t come as a shock that Mary Shelley was actually influenced by this tale. Her husband Percy Shelley had actually begun composing his own tale of Prometheus in the form of poetry entitled, Prometheus Unbound. He began composing this piece around the same time that his wife was publishing Frankenstein. Mary Shelley included The Modern Prometheus as part of her title for the novel and she attempts to compare Victor Frankenstein, and theRead MoreMary Shelleys Frankenstein Essay examples786 Words   |  4 Pages Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus In Marry Shelly’s book Frankenstein, she tells the story of a man named Victor Frankenstein. The character of Frankenstein contains traits that parallel Prometheus from Greek mythology. Through his actions and emotions Victor Frankenstein becomes the modern Prometheus by producing ill-fated actions that carry tragic consequences just as Prometheus’ did. Prometheus was a figure in Greek mythology who created the conflict between mankind and the God’s. PrometheusRead MoreHow is Mary Shelleys Frankenstein the Modern Prometheus?834 Words   |  3 Pages Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus. The full title of this amazing book is very rarely spoken and to some people, confusing because of the metaphor. How does this story, about a nameless creature that is created by a half-crazed man, at anyway relate to a Greek myth about fire? There are no references to ancient Greece in the story. Are there though? Victor is constantly thought of as a god by the creature he creates, and there is human possession clear in the text. Unbeknownst to readers, theseRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 1402 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Romantic Period is the novel, Frankenstein. This intelligent work of art was written by Mary Shelley. Shelley was born in London on August 30th, 1797 and died on February 1, 1851. People from all around th e world have heard about the monster created by the one and only Victor Frankenstein; also known as the world’s maddest scientist that has ever lived in the fictional world. As many people do not know, Mary Shelley subtitled her book â€Å"Or, The Modern Prometheus?† This gothic novel is similar toRead MoreThe Myth of Prometheus in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Essay1192 Words   |  5 PagesThe Myth of   Prometheus in Frankenstein    Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein as a modern day version of the legend of Prometheus. Prometheus created men out of clay and taught them the arts of civilisation (Websters World Encyclopedia CD-ROM 1999). Zeus, the chief god of the Titans, wanted to destroy Prometheus creation but Prometheus stole fire from heaven to help mankind. Zeus punished Prometheus by chaining him to a rock where an eagle would feed on his liver during the day and each nightRead MoreThe Myth Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein Essay1204 Words   |  5 Pagesfire through a Greek Titan, named Prometheus. The story begins with Zeus, the leader of the Olympus, sending Prometheus to the mortal world to create mankind with clay and water. While Prometheus working on his own creation, he grew love towards mankind, and sympathized with how little power Zeus wanted mankind to have. Therefore, Prometheus stole fire from Zeus and gave it to mankind. After Zeus acknowledged the theft of fire, he was enraged by the action of Pr ometheus. Afterwards, Zeus punished hisRead More Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Essay1312 Words   |  6 PagesMary Shelleys Frankenstein In order to illustrate the main theme of her novel â€Å"Frankenstein†, Mary Shelly draws strongly on the myth of Prometheus, as the subtitle The Modern Prometheus indicates. Maurice Hindle, in his critical study of the novel, suggests, â€Å"the primary theme of Frankenstein is what happens to human sympathies and relationships when men seek obsessively to satisfy their Promethean longings to â€Å"conquer the unknown† - supposedly in the service of their fellow-humans†. ThisRead MoreEssay about Frankenstein, the Modern Prometheus?1373 Words   |  6 PagesFRANKENSTEIN, THE MODERN PROMETHEUS? In order to illustrate the main theme of her novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelly draws strongly on the myth of Prometheus, as the subtitle The Modern Prometheus indicates. Maurice Hindle, in his critical study of the novel, suggests, the primary theme of Frankenstein is what happens to human sympathies and relationships when men seek obsessively to satisfy their Promethean longings to conquer the unknown - supposedly in the service of their fellow-humansRead MoreFrankenstein : Emotionally Bound By Mary Shelley1745 Words   |  7 PagesVictor Frankenstein: Emotionally Bound The creation of life is an extraordinary event which humanity usually attributes to the work of a higher being. Because of this common belief, Mary Shelley’s: Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus often triggers mixed feelings when human Victor Frankenstein experiments and creates the creature known as Frankenstein or Frankenstein’s monster. While it cannot be denied that this accomplishment is impressive, Victor’s right to form life, being a mortal himself