Mythology In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein And Prometheus

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Mythologies are traditionally stories that concern the early history of religion and people or the explanation of a natural or social phenomenon. Myths are often referenced by authors, as allusions, in their novels. The myth of Prometheus, the creator of man, is the story of a god who is sentenced to suffer for eternity for disobeying god. Victor Frankenstein is portrayed as a modern Prometheus in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein through, the methods used for the creation of man, his desire to create man, and the punishment he receives from his creation and himself. As the novel progresses, so does the similarities between Frankenstein and Prometheus. Due to the various similarities between them, a conclusion that Frankenstein portrays Prometheus …show more content…

Martin Luther King Jr. was the leader of the civil rights movement. He started this movement because he just wanted a society where everyone is viewed as equal. In the novel Victor Frankenstein is inspired by nature to create life. As a young child Frankenstein took an interest in old outdated books on alchemy. Instead of explaining to his son why the theories in this book are no longer viewed as correct, Frankenstein’s father said “Ah! Cornelius Agrippa! My dear Victor, do not waste your time upon this; it is sad trash” (24). Frankenstein has no way of knowing that whatever was written in that book is proven to be scientifically incorrect; his father just dismisses the text with no explanation. Similarly the myth of Prometheus states that, “The God of Nature did his soul inspire”. This quote shows that Prometheus was inspired by the god of nature to create mankind. Frankenstein is inspired by nature to create his monster while Prometheus in inspired by the god of nature to create mankind. One can conclude that Frankenstein portrays …show more content…

Frankenstein’s entire family and his best friend are murdered by his creation. The monster is abandoned by Frankenstein the moment he was created. Frankenstein’s creation feels that Frankenstein did not do him justice, seeing as he was rejected from society, and therefore vows to get revenge on him. The monster is successful in making Frankenstein suffer throughout the novel by murdering his wife, father, best friend, servant and brother. At one point, Frankenstein admits that he has “turned loose into the world a depraved wretch whose delight was in carnage and misery” (Shelley 63). Prometheus’ creation, humans, also caused Prometheus to suffer. One of the creations, Pandora opened a box which unleashed evil and suffering upon humans. Prometheus was punished by his creation just like Frankenstein is punished by the monster. Due to the similarities between their punishments, it is evident that Frankenstein portrays a modern

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