Frankenstein

The German composer Ludwig van Beethoven, the German author Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and the English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley created works inspired by the Prometheus myth. Mary Shelley uses, “The Modern Prometheus” as the subtitle of her famous work, Frankenstein, (**underline the word Frankenstein**) because these main characters share a serious crime against humanity - the by-creation of a human being.

In Greek mythology, Prometheus was famous for having stolen fire from Zeus and giving it to man. Fire has an important connotation, for it was seen as sacred. Zeus saved the fire for himself and the other gods. He thought it was too special for man, and that mortals would do bad things with it. As punishment, Zeus chained Prometheus to a rock for 30 years, while a vulture was sent to feed on his liver, which constantly replenished itself. The myth concludes that Heracles finally killed the bird and freed Prometheus. Shelley's allusion to Prometheus links well to the life of Victor Frankenstein.

Victor Frankenstein was a man who loved science and acquiring knowledge. As a young man he was influence by the theories of Agrippa, Paracelsus and Albertus Magnus for he stated, “...I read and studied the wild fancies of these writers with delight...I have described myself as always having been imbued with a fervent longing to penetrate the secrets of nature...” Upon entering university, Frankenstein became fascinated by the creation of life and took it upon himself to find the secret. After spending time gathering body parts, he spent the summer months locked, “in a solitary chamber, or rather a cell , at the top of the house” and created a monster.

With this creation Frankenstein had played the role of God. This creature was

was, “eight feet in height and proportionately large” and even he was repulsed by its grotesque appearance. There was no doubt that this creation violated the realm of human beings.

Frankenstein is a modern Prometheus due to his desire to attain the god-like power of creating life. He was confident of his knowledge and felt smarter than those around him.

By bringing the creature to life, showed a defiance against what is right in the world. He also violated religious doctrines for it is said that God created man.

No crime goes unpunished. Just as Prometheus was punished