Frankenstien IA

Nandini Iyer
19/854
English Hons.
Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus is Mary Shelley’s novel written in 1818 and
reprinted in 1832, conceived during the Romantic Era. The story is characterised by its
suspicion towards the overuse of technology and pushing the boundaries of nature in the
pursuit of intellect. As the title suggests, while writing Frankenstien, Shelley was not only
influenced by the e Promethean myth, but also modelled the character and story of
Frankenstein in the image of the Greek titan, Prometheus. Due to its allegorical nature that
warns the readers against blinding ambition towards and scientific advancement, over the
years, Frankenstein itself has come to be known as a modern myth in its own right
Frankenstein is essentially a story about creation entailing new, innovative and terrifying
ways to bring light and life into the world. In that sense the story can be linked to two other
creation stories, influences from which were acknowledged by Mary Shelley in the text:
Firstly, that of paradise lost which can be seen in the manner the monster says to
Frankenstein “Remember that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam.” By saying this he
is putting Victor in the position of god while equating himself the creation. Frankenstein
himself reiterates this when he states his aim to be “a new species [that] would bless me as its
creator and source”.
Secondly, Mary Shelley’s decision to subtitle the book ‘The modern Prometheus’ is a clear
invitation for the readers to contemplate the connections of this story to the Greek Myth that
dates back to the 8th century B.C. It deals with the Greek titan, Prometheus, who dares to
give to humans something previously only to the gods: the sacred fire. In this, he was also
giving technology to mankind; an act for which he was punished by Zeus. The fire was meant
to bring knowledge and prosperity to mankind and would therefore stand for a light of reason
and knowledge. However, considering the fact that it was written in the Romantic Era that
was characterised by its skepticism towards scientific advancements, it is also worth noting
that in invoking mythical allusion to Prometheus and the theme of fire, Shelley also brings
forth a dichotomy of symbols: by embodying light which is capable of sustaining life but also
capable of causing death and destruction. Just like the myth wherein the sacred fire provided
warmth and sustenance, but it also allowed mankind to forge tools and weapons.
The story can also be read as a cautionary tale of what would happen if humans overstepped
the boundaries of subjective, individualistic perceptions and the natural limits of man that
were highly valued by Romantic thinkers like Shelley, in the relentless pursuit of scientific
idealism and rationality. The figure of Prometheus enjoyed a resurgence in Romantic
literature as he came to be upheld as a symbol of civilization and scientific knowledge, this is
the reason that Shelley likens Frankenstein to the ancient Greek Titan; the most obvious
correlation of this myth to Victor Frankenstien was seen in his early studies, where he felt as
though “the world was to me was a secret, which I desired to discover”. Shelly thus borrows
from the tale of Prometheus a sense of consequence resulting from seeking enlightenment
and power that she herself deemed to be horrifying by saying “Supremely frightful would be
the effect of any human endeavor to mock the stupendous mechanism of the creator of the
world”. Victor Frankenstien’s depiction as the modern incarnation of Prometheus is also
evident in the fate that he meets with his curiosity and longing to learn the secrets of the
world causing the deaths of those he loved, and eventually his own death.
Additionally, she channels Romantic ideals in the story by countering the scientific
revolution and offering her views on the nature of man’s pursuits of knowledge. She wanted
to write a story that would “speak to the mysterious fears off our nature and awaken thrilling
horror” by using nature and emotion to expose the suspicious nature of scientific progress, an
idea that was key to the Romantics. The misfortune Victor suffered at the hands of his
creation serves as a cautionary tale that highlights the tragic consequences of scientific
overreach, resulting in enduring horrific punishments for his transgressions.
In telling the story, Mary Shelley reworked the myth of Prometheus into a tale about a
scientist who transgresses the powers of the divine by attempting to create a memetic form of
human life in a laboratory. Both Victor and Prometheus possessed a unique power to
transcend the laws of nature While Prometheus was blessed with Immortality, Victor was
attributed with the privilege of great knowledge. However, these gifts only added to the
misery of their respective punishments; Victor met his doom due to a creature he created and
Prometheus spending eternity being eaten by vultures.
On the other hand, it can also be argued that by likening Frankenstein to Prometheus, Shelley
is not just mirroring stories or drawing parallels between the two. The choice of title can also
be read as an attempt to contrast the purity of the ancient myth with the ambition of the
modern tale. While the titan Prometheus is known to be symbol of knowledge and intellectual
ability, the name itself means “foresight and forethought”; in which sense the title may be
seem as ironic as these are things that Victor Frankenstien entirely lacks through the course
of the story except on the one occasion when he destroys the female creature’s body out of
fear that it may lead to an entire race of monsters. Additionally, despite the fact that while
Prometheus may serve as an archetype for Victor, their characters differ significantly in
motive: While Prometheus stole the fire for the benefit of mankind, Victor had no desire to
protect or help his creation and was ill with disgust for what he had done. This is evident in
the statement Victor makes while addressing the monster, “Wretched devil! You reproach me
with your creation; come on, then, that I may extinguish the spark which I so neglectfully
bestowed” by saying that he is not only expressing his regret towards his creation but also his
wish to kill his creation. He not only lacked forethought in the creation of the monster but in
subsequently abandoning him, Victor proved himself to be distorted by his ambition.
Regardless of the motive for choosing ‘Frankenstien or The Modern Prometheus’ as the title,
the primary implication of it is that one might encounter a character similar to that of
Prometheus in the story which is evidenced in the similarities between Victor and
Prometheus. It also provided a clear foreshadowing for the events that were to transpire in the
novel. If not added to the title, the themes would be lost on those that were unfamiliar with
the Greek Myth. This makes the title a very accurate and fitting one.

Frankenstien IA

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Nandini Iyer

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