Promethian Devices In Frankenstein Essay
Promethian and Faustian Presences in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein A myth may be defined, however loosely, as an answer to an otherwise unanswerable question, in some cases due to the incomprehensibility of such an answer. It cannot be denied that Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1818) poses a number of such unfathomable questions, largely concerning that which separates men from gods, and the point at which supposedly beneficial ambition becomes mindless and destructive obsession. The best alternative for an answer to these unanswerable questions comes in the form of resolutions in the myth of Faustus and the myth of Prometheus. Allusions to these myths are blatantly obvious in the actions, reactions, and reflections of the protagonist, Victor Frankenstein. More specifically, Shelley's fluid incorporation of the
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Again, Victor's punishment proves to be much more psychological than that of Prometheus, but this does not detract from the wholeness the stories' connections. Also, resemblances exist within the reason for which Victor and Prometheus were punished. To clarify, both characters were punished for having rebelled against some higher authority; in Victor's case, this authority was nature or destiny, while Prometheus rebelled against the will of Zeus. However, the major relationship between Victor's downfall in Frankenstein and the downfall of humanity in the myth of Prometheus occurs between Pandora and Frankenstein's creature. This relationship is first made evident in the fact that both Pandora and the creature are inherently innocent, and enter the world with good intentions. However, both characters are quickly introduced to the evil nature of mankind, and forever change the lives of the people around them (recall that Pandora opened the box which contained all the evil emotions of man, releasing them into the world). In this way, the creature that Frankenstein created is directly related to Pandora, despite his obvious lack of
Again, Victor's punishment proves to be much more psychological than that of Prometheus, but this does not detract from the wholeness the stories' connections. Also, resemblances exist within the reason for which Victor and Prometheus were punished. To clarify, both characters were punished for having rebelled against some higher authority; in Victor's case, this authority was nature or destiny, while Prometheus rebelled against the will of Zeus. However, the major relationship between Victor's downfall in Frankenstein and the downfall of humanity in the myth of Prometheus occurs between Pandora and Frankenstein's creature. This relationship is first made evident in the fact that both Pandora and the creature are inherently innocent, and enter the world with good intentions. However, both characters are quickly introduced to the evil nature of mankind, and forever change the lives of the people around them (recall that Pandora opened the box which contained all the evil emotions of man, releasing them into the world). In this way, the creature that Frankenstein created is directly related to Pandora, despite his obvious lack of