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Is Frankenstein the Modern Day Prometheus?

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Is Frankenstein the Modern Day Prometheus?
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 “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 “The Modern Prometheus”. Dr. Frankenstein and Prometheus both create a male human being, they both sought glory from their creations, and they were both very intelligent beings. In view of these attributes Mary Shelly used to create character Dr. Victor Frankenstein it is obvious to see why she would subtitle her novel “The modern Prometheus.”

Dr. Frankenstein and Prometheus create man

Philo Farnsworth creates the modern television we all watch today. Alexander Bell creates the telephone and now by nearly everyone on the planet. And who could forget Percy Spencer who created the microwave oven that is in just about every household in America. These inventions are all great but pale in comparison to creating a “Man”. After fighting alongside his fellow Titans in the war against the Olympians, Prometheus is given the task of creating humans. Prometheus creates a man out of mud. Dr. Frankenstein collects body parts for creating his man from mud. Dr. Frankenstein being even more obsessed with his diabolic plan to create man he neglected to notice the fact that he was desecrating a grave yard. “Darkness had no effect upon my fancy; and a churchyard was to me merely the receptacle of bodies deprived of life, which, from being the seat of beauty and strength, had become food for the worm.” (Chapter 4) Dr. Frankenstein assumes the task of creating a human being “When I



References: Mary W. Shelley “ Frankenstein or the modern Prometheus” (1818) www.desy.de www.egs.edu www.gutenburg.org www.english-literature-space.blogspot.com www.sparknotes.com www.theeoi.com www.wikipedia.com

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