According to Greek mythology, the creation of man is credited to Prometheus, a Titan who molded man out of clay before breathing life into his creations. He also gifted man with fire, which he stole from the gods, to help man’s survival. When Zeus discovers that the earthly man has power over fire, he punishes Prometheus for his crime against the heavenly gods by chaining Prometheus to a rock so his liver could be pecked out and eaten by an eagle peck out every day for the rest of eternity. Mary Shelley’s Dr. Victor Frankenstein of her work Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus follows a very similar path; he steal “fire” from the heavens, which for his age was electricity, and uses it to create life. Unlike Prometheus who was punished for trying to help his “children”, Victor abandons his creation and then suffers his punishment for that misdeed. Mary Shelley parallels and diverges from the tale of Prometheus to demonstrate her own opinion on the consequences for creating life.
The Titan Prometheus is a friend to, and patron of, mankind. He …show more content…
Prometheus feels pity for the creatures he has made; when he saw man’s “weak and naked state,” (Cartwright) he chose to give them the power to stay warm, cook their meat, and make tools. He did not ask to be worshipped or revered by man, he only acted on the love he felt for humanity, as he thought of them as his “children” (Creation). Frankenstein, when he discovered the secret of life, stated “A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me” (M. Shelly, 38) and “No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirs” (M. Shelly, 39). Frankenstein expresses that he is looking forward to the awe and devotion of his new creation(s). The differences in the inner motivations of each figure contrast as selfless (Prometheus) and selfish
The Titan Prometheus is a friend to, and patron of, mankind. He …show more content…
Prometheus feels pity for the creatures he has made; when he saw man’s “weak and naked state,” (Cartwright) he chose to give them the power to stay warm, cook their meat, and make tools. He did not ask to be worshipped or revered by man, he only acted on the love he felt for humanity, as he thought of them as his “children” (Creation). Frankenstein, when he discovered the secret of life, stated “A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me” (M. Shelly, 38) and “No father could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirs” (M. Shelly, 39). Frankenstein expresses that he is looking forward to the awe and devotion of his new creation(s). The differences in the inner motivations of each figure contrast as selfless (Prometheus) and selfish