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Joyner
English 4H
16 December, 2015
Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus Victor Frankenstein was an educated man who went beyond the boundaries of the human knowledge. In the book, the author, Mary Shelley, describes how everything changes around Frankenstein after his creation was left unnoticed. Some say that Victor and the Greek Titan, Prometheus, are similar, hence the subtitle of the book, The Modern Prometheus. But what makes both characters similar and how are they related? Both reached beyond their capabilities and both received their punishment.
Prometheus and Victor Frankenstein are similar to their ideals of trying to create mankind. Prometheus, a wise Titan, brought mankind to life and gave them the knowledge and enlightenment …show more content…
Because of it, he was forced to witness the killing of the monster and had to suffer seeing his love ones die as result of his actions and his decisions. In the book, when Victor was dying, lying down and the monster showed up, standing over Victor, the monster said:
“Farewell! I leave you, and in you the last of human-kind whom these eyes will ever behold. Farewell, Frankenstein! If thou wert yet alive and yet cherished a desire of revenge against me, it would be better satiated in my life than in my destruction. But it was not so; thou didst seek my extinction, that I might not cause greater wretchedness; and it yet, in some mode unknown to me, thou hadst not ceased to think and feel, thou wouldst not desire against me a vengeance greater than that which bitter sting of remorse will not cease to rankle in my wounds until death shall close them for ever” (Shelley 166).
Victor was disgusted at the creation he created, so he sought to exile it and hide its existence. He suffered in the end as he could not complete this goal due to the sickness that had consumed him. The monster wanted to praise him as the creator, yet he did not give it that chance. The monster wanted a mate to have the feeling of love, yet Victor denied it and threw away the unfinished work that he sacrificed the tour around Europe with his best friend for investigation and learning. Because of his overeager interest in knowledge, he ended …show more content…
This story is often called The Modern Prometheus as to how Victor’s actions lead to consequences as Prometheus’ did. Victor was punished for searching for greater knowledge, for seeking out into creating life. This is similar to Prometheus as he was punished for helping mankind, and tricking the Gods. Both were trying to reach beyond their boundaries. Then both would receive punishments that would last their entire life. Both also served as a lesson, a warning to the people about yearning for something greater, by going beyond their needs, and these actions would eventually return with big consequences. By creating mankind as they did, will be different as imagined, as mankind has never been perfected to this
Joyner
English 4H
16 December, 2015
Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus Victor Frankenstein was an educated man who went beyond the boundaries of the human knowledge. In the book, the author, Mary Shelley, describes how everything changes around Frankenstein after his creation was left unnoticed. Some say that Victor and the Greek Titan, Prometheus, are similar, hence the subtitle of the book, The Modern Prometheus. But what makes both characters similar and how are they related? Both reached beyond their capabilities and both received their punishment.
Prometheus and Victor Frankenstein are similar to their ideals of trying to create mankind. Prometheus, a wise Titan, brought mankind to life and gave them the knowledge and enlightenment …show more content…
Because of it, he was forced to witness the killing of the monster and had to suffer seeing his love ones die as result of his actions and his decisions. In the book, when Victor was dying, lying down and the monster showed up, standing over Victor, the monster said:
“Farewell! I leave you, and in you the last of human-kind whom these eyes will ever behold. Farewell, Frankenstein! If thou wert yet alive and yet cherished a desire of revenge against me, it would be better satiated in my life than in my destruction. But it was not so; thou didst seek my extinction, that I might not cause greater wretchedness; and it yet, in some mode unknown to me, thou hadst not ceased to think and feel, thou wouldst not desire against me a vengeance greater than that which bitter sting of remorse will not cease to rankle in my wounds until death shall close them for ever” (Shelley 166).
Victor was disgusted at the creation he created, so he sought to exile it and hide its existence. He suffered in the end as he could not complete this goal due to the sickness that had consumed him. The monster wanted to praise him as the creator, yet he did not give it that chance. The monster wanted a mate to have the feeling of love, yet Victor denied it and threw away the unfinished work that he sacrificed the tour around Europe with his best friend for investigation and learning. Because of his overeager interest in knowledge, he ended …show more content…
This story is often called The Modern Prometheus as to how Victor’s actions lead to consequences as Prometheus’ did. Victor was punished for searching for greater knowledge, for seeking out into creating life. This is similar to Prometheus as he was punished for helping mankind, and tricking the Gods. Both were trying to reach beyond their boundaries. Then both would receive punishments that would last their entire life. Both also served as a lesson, a warning to the people about yearning for something greater, by going beyond their needs, and these actions would eventually return with big consequences. By creating mankind as they did, will be different as imagined, as mankind has never been perfected to this