Mary Shelly gave her novel the second title, The Modern Prometheus.
From reading through chapter nine, select a section of the text (ex. a specific passage, event, or detail; not chapters 1-9 as a whole, so everyone has something to talk about!), and analyze how within that section Victor Frankenstein is a modern Prometheus and/or there are interesting connections with the myth.
Be sure to include at least one illustrative quote from your section (with pg #, please) as you discuss parallels, or notable differences within general similarities, with the Greek myth.
For example, maybe think about: What causes Victor Frankenstein to embark on his isolated, unnatural pursuit? What does it mean to be a creator and what are the responsibilities that are inherent in creating? How does Victor Frankenstein ultimately differ from Prometheus? What is the significance of each man’s punishment? How is fire relevant in both?
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“I considered the being whom I had cast among mankind, and endowed with will and power to effect purposes of horror, such as the deed which he had now done, nearly in the light of my own vampire, my own spirit let loose from the grave, and forced to destroy all that was dear to me” (76).
ReplyDeleteIn this passage I see an immediate connection to the myth of Prometheus. Victor Frankenstein is reflecting on what has come of his creation, the monster. Like Prometheus, Victor wanted to bring something magnificent into the world. He was fascinated with recreation and life and death, as Prometheus was fascinated in the concept of fire. Both of these men let their minds explore the concepts that they were truly enraptured in. As Prometheus had brought fire to humans, he ultimately suffered the consequence for his actions. He probably knew that doing this was not positively looked upon, but he did it anyways. Victor Frankenstein did the same thing. He brought this amazing creature to life, yet kept it a secret because it is assumed that he knew there could be consequences. The consequences in which he was faced were however, worse than he could have imagined. This recreation of this “monster” lead to the death of his young brother and Justine, a girl who was close to the family and loved very deeply by Victor. He is living with all of this guilt inside and cannot find an outlet. He even thinks about suicide because he cannot escape the conflict that he is forced to keep inside. As the concept of creation is present in the myth of Prometheus and in Frankenstein, the two main characters have to deal with the consequences of their creations. Victor Frankenstein is seen as a modern Prometheus because he brought this situation onto himself and is forced to deal with the outcome of it all.
“No one can conceive the anguish I suffered during the remainder of the night, which I spent, cold and wet, in the open air” (76).
ReplyDeleteWhat Victor Frankenstein has done so far, and what he has said here, directly connects him to the myth of Prometheus. In the book Frankenstein, Victor creates a monster which he spent countless years forming, and when brought to life, though meant for good, is punished for his actions. He is punished both mentally and physically. In the myth of Prometheus, he brings back fire to humans after Zeus took it away from them. Though he thought it was good, he was punished for his actions, mentally and physically. Victor made this monster out of curiosity and to see if humans could bring life to death. In doing so, the monster escaped his sights, and ends up wild. Victor thinks that Frankenstein killed his brother. He can’t go a day without having bad thoughts about this monster and it is killing him mentally. It has also made him ill. When Prometheus brought fire back to humans, Zeus strapped him to a rock and had an eagle eat out his liver everyday. Though not as harsh in Frankenstein’s case, there are parallels between punishments for the actions of these two characters. I think it will be interesting to see how this mentally breaks Frankenstein down until the point where he is on the iceberg. Also, do the rock in Prometheus and the iceberg in Frankenstein have a connection?
“Treading in the steps already marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation” (53).
ReplyDeleteIn this passage I saw the connection of Frankenstein to Prometheus. In the book, Frankenstein is enthralled with the natural world and knowing all that is mysterious. In this quote it shows his dedication to “explore unknown powers” and understand the world. In the myth of Prometheus, he is tasked with the creation of man. In this quote it shows Frankenstein wants to understand the world’s creations. It doesn’t yet show that Frankenstein will actually create a being like Prometheus does but it shows the development of such thought. Both men embark on unprecedented actions of creating life and they both succeed. Another connection between the two is in the quote it says, “unfold to the world”. I interpret this as giving the world new knowledge unknown before. It is like Prometheus giving humans fire. Fire is unknown to humans until it is bestowed to them and they learn of the knowledge. They both endeavor to advance mankind’s knowledge of the world.
At the end of chapter 2, Frankenstein is describing science that changed his way of thinking. He mentions, "It was a strong effort of the spirit of good; but it was ineffectual. Destiny was too potent, and her immutable laws decreed my utter destruction (49). frankenstein is describing that he has a strong desire in the way of good, even though it was "ineffectual" very similar to Prometheus. Prometheus believed that he was only doing good by providing the humans with fire even though in the end it did nothing for him in turn. Frankenstein mentions that the "laws"
ReplyDeleteof science led to his destruction because of destiny. In the myth of Prometheus, prometheus understood that he would be destined to destruction if he disobeyed the gods, yet did it anyway very similar to Frankenstein trying to "play God" in his story. This quote emphasizes that Frankenstein is similar to Prometheus in the fact that they both show stubborn qualities and a desire to be more than they are or can be. They both face destruction due to their efforts to do good deeds that end up horrifically due to pretending they can be better than they are.
-Lindsey Burzumato
Mary Shelley wrote the tale of Frankenstein with intentions of relating it to the myth of Prometheus. Prometheus is known as the greek titan who created mankind down on Earth. Prometheus stole fire from Mount Olympus and gave it to mankind because he felt they didn't have as many resources as the Gods and felt that it was his responsibility to take care of the humans.
ReplyDelete“The different accidents of life are not so changeable as the feelings of human nature. I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream had vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart” (Shelly 61).
Within this passage there are many parallels to the myth of Prometheus and Victor displays characteristics that are similar to the greek titan. Cleary Frankenstein had the desire to create something out of nothing as shown in all of the years and research he put in to learn how to create a being. Prometheus was the titan who created human beings because of his desire for the power of creation. Victor also pushed himself to his limits clearly when he states: “For this I had deprived myself of rest and health” (61). Victor’s desire to create took over his life and he became obsessed, therefore he was not aware of the possible consequences of what he was about to attempt. Prometheus was somewhat self centered when he desired more power like the Gods, just as Victor did. Prometheus did not care about the consequences when he stole fire from the Gods and gave it to mankind. All he knew was that doing this would show that he should not be underestimated by any other Gods or titans. Victor was horrified at first by his creation because he was not too sure what to expect. His consequence was that he would have to be responsible for his creation and all of its actions. One of the main differences in Prometheus’s punishment and Victor’s punishment is that Prometheus’s was a physical punishment whereas Frankenstein’s punishment was cerebral and all within himself. Ultimately, there are several connections between Victor Frankenstein and Prometheus which is why Mary Shelley subtitled the novel, The Modern Prometheus.
-Nick Vencile
At the end of chapter 8 just after Justine was executed for the murder of Frankenstein's brother William, Frankenstein says, "This was also my doing! And my fathers woe, and the desolation of that late smiling home - all was the work of my thrice accursed hands." (860). Frankenstein feels guilty for the death of his brother, who was murdered by the creature, and the death of Justine who was convicted of Williams murder and sentenced to death. Frankenstein suffers immeasurably from his guilt because he feels responsible for his creation thus feeling responsible for the deaths of William and Justine. In the Prometheus myth, Prometheus suffers horrifically as well, giving fire to humans even though he knows that will anger sues and he will be punished, he proceeds anyways because he feels responsible for his creation. Both Frankenstein and Prometheus endure quite a punishment ultimately from a feeling of responsibility for their creations.
ReplyDeleteJohn Barooshian
"Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world. A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me... Pursuing these reflections, I thought, that if I could bestow animation upon lifeless matter, I might in the process of time renew life where death had apparently devoted the body to corruption" (58).
ReplyDeleteThe second paragraph on page 58 allows readers to draw many parallels between Frankenstein and Prometheus. Here we see that Frankenstein is obsessed with the idea of creating life, which was Prometheus's special task. Frankenstein wishes to learn how to "bestow animation upon lifeless matter," which is exactly what Prometheus did in ancient Greek mythology to create human beings and other animals. In fact, Frankenstein's efforts so closely resemble those of Prometheus, that Mary Shelley nicknamed her book The Modern Prometheus.
However, the Modern Prometheus takes Prometheus's actions one step further. In addition to learning how to create life, Frankenstein's thirst for knowledge and power indulges him in the pursuit of "renew[ing] life where death had apparently devoted the body to corruption." His determination leads to the invention of a monstrous creature that Frankenstein holds contempt for. The birth of the creature made from the remains of corpses ultimately leads to the downfall of Frankenstein, similar to how humans indirectly lead to the downfall of Prometheus when he tries to save their lives by stealing fire from Zeuss. Had Frankenstein heard the story of Prometheus prior to his experimentation, perhaps he would not have been driven to act impulsively according to his immense desire to have "many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me."
"Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world. than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow" (Shelley 57).
ReplyDeleteBased off of this passage, the reader is spoken to directly through Victor Frankenstein as he warns them not to seek to be greater than nature, and to in essence stay in your place without gaining too much knowledge. Although this passage occurs earlier within the section, we are able to see foreshadowing through Frankenstein revealing that later on in the story, based off of his own experience, he tries to out-beat nature and surpass human limitations (throwback to Faust!!) and in the end we are led to believe that it will end badly. This connects to the Greek myth about Prometheus because within the myth, the titan Prometheus in a way tries to surpass his limitations as a titan by tricking Zeus to take the lesser option (the fat covered bones over the real meat) then after being punished for his actions by having Zeus keep fire from man, Prometheus then also goes on to defy Zeus and steal the fire to give to the humans. In both cases, Prometheus and Frankenstein crave more than what they have, and through their knowledge try to go further than they should be able to, and because of it essentially set themselves up for disaster in the end.
Alex Cosentino
"...I delighted in investigating their causes. The world was to me a secret which I desired to divine. Curiosity, earnest research to learn the hidden laws of nature, gladness akin to rapture, as they were unfolded to me, are among the earliest sensations I can remember. (44)"
ReplyDeleteI wanted to pull an early quote to juxtapose Prometheus and Victor. As the greek myth goes, Prometheus brought creation to man, and as for Victor, we find out later that he also brings creation to the world. However, I wanted to show the "Why" and the motive behind each man's action. From his "earliest sensations" Victor knew he wanted to explore and unfold the secrets of nature, and Heaven, and Earth. His curiosity at a young age only sets him up for the future to fulfill that desire. Prometheus was generally the same way. Although it is not spelled out for us in greek mythology, we know that from the beginning Prometheus was going to get what he desired, even if it meant he had to defy the greatest god of all, Zeus. Knowing what was behind Victor's creation and why he wanted to create it allows to reader to connect and understand his actions more, and take his side, when some of his actions may be unjust. The same with Prometheus, he loved man and worked with many other gods to be able to give creation to the world, and when Prometheus defies Zeus and stands up for what he believes in, it only makes us back Prometheus up as well because we understand why he is fighting for it. Both Victor and Prometheus have a strong urge to create but this came from their beginnings and the way they thought before, which later carried to fulfulling those desires.
Side note: Along with this passage, I also wanted to point out that a paragraph up from this quote Victor talked of Elizabeth as "she was his" and he would love her and cherish her. I found this super weird but also interesting in the way Mary Shelley characterized Victor right off the bat. He felt such strong emotion and connection to Elizabeth and had it in his mind that he now needed to protect her. So I think later on in the book this characteristic of connection and protection will carry on to his relationship with his creation.
-Krista Leach
“I felt as if he had placed carefully, one by one, in my view those instruments which were to be afterwards used in putting me to a slow and cruel death”(69).
ReplyDeleteChapter 6 was a crucial chapter within the 9 chapters read. Not much had come from this chapter, other than the fact that Elizabeth had written him a letter and he has been ill. I chose to analyze this quote and connect it to how Victor is a modern day Prometheus because, as I was reading I could visualize the story of Prometheus, especially with the use “one by one” and “instruments which were to be afterwards used in putting me to a slow and cruel death”. One by one made me think of the birds, one by one, tearing apart Prometheus’ liver each and every day. When Mary Shelley writes “in my view those instruments”, my mind goes straight to the birds and how their beaks are like the instruments. Although Zeus ordered Prometheus to eternal suffering, and not death, what Zeus ordered was beyond cruel.
-Becky Siegel
In pages 55 through 65, Frankenstein begins to build the creature. After completing his studies of all the sciences, Frankenstein has come to the conclusion that he wants to create life from an inanimate being. He devotes all of his time, days and nights, to finding the solution. Frankenstein says,"Every night I was oppressed by a slow fever, and I became nervous to a most painful degree; the fall of a leaf startled me, and I shunned my fellow creatures as if I had been guilty of a crime. Sometimes I grew alarmed at the wreck I perceived that I had become; the energy of my purpose alone sustained me: my labors would soon end, and I believed that exercise and amusement would the. Drive away incipient disease... "(pg.60 ). He Is so greatly passionate and invested in this experiment that he has made his mental and physical health his least priority. He has isolated himself from his family, become ill, and sleep deprived from his work. This a parallel to Prometheus because Prometheus also demonstrated this extreme sense of devotion to the humans. Frankenstein and Prometheus both hold their creations higher than themselves. They risk their mental and physical health for the success of their creations. Yet the beings they created only caused bad things to happen to them. Both Prometheus and Frankenstein suffered consequences for their actions. Frankenstein's creature scares him and we later see that his brother also dies. As Prometheus stole fire from Zeus for the humans and was sentenced to the worst punishment.
ReplyDelete"A flash of lightning illuminated the object and discovered its shape plainly to me; its gigantic stature, and the deformity of its aspect, more hideous than belongs to humanity, instantly informed me that it was the wretch, the filthy demon to whom had given life." (Shelley, 60).
ReplyDeleteIn ancient Greek mythology Prometheus was said to be the wisest of all the Titans, He is the one who showed mankind how to create fire and therefore is associated with bringing them knowledge. However, Prometheus stole the fire from the Gods of Mount Olympus and by doing this he angered them and was sentenced to be chained to a rock and have his liver eaten out every day by an eagle. Each night Prometheus would regain his liver and the eagle would return the next day and this would continue for eternity. Now the parallels can be drawn between the story of Prometheus and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein when looking at the common theme of seeking knowledge or enlightenment and power. Victor is Shelley’s modern representation of Prometheus and he is obsessed with electricity/lightning. One excerpt that speaks to the horrors that are realized once Victor creates his monster would be, "A flash of lightning illuminated the object and discovered its shape plainly to me; its gigantic stature, and the deformity of its aspect, more hideous than belongs to humanity, instantly informed me that it was the wretch, the filthy demon to whom had given life." (Shelley, 60). After the monster awakens, the readers, are informed about how Victor feels when he creates this monster, because he is uncertain of what he has done and what the consequences will be. There is an element of mystery added to the piece because of Victor’s response, the readers are forced to foreshadow what will happen in the near future. After finishing his many years of work, Victor’s disgust for what he has done is like that of Prometheus’ torture in that it is eternal and undying.
- Nicole Winkler