The Modern Prometheus
Read the following article and weigh in on its contents. Explain why Frankenstein is titled The Modern Prometheus.
http://www.winstonbrill.com/bril001/html/article_index/articles/1-50/article15_body.html
March 5, 2007
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I think this article relates to Frankenstien because like Frankenstien, prometheus experimented with something he had no business doing. Both each neglected to care what others thought they were doing
This article is connected to Frankenstein in many ways. The first example is that Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to mankind. This connects to Frankenstein because Victor stole dead body parts to create mankind. Many would agree that Prometheus was very arogant as well as Victor Frankenstein. Also, they were both outsiders. They were both punished in very harsh ways. Prometheus was punished by being chained to cliff and eagles ate his liver. Victor was punished but he was not in this horrific way. Victor is punished when his monster indirectly and directly kills the ones that Victor loves. These two stories have many connections.
Frankenstein is most definitely a great representation of Prometheus. I feel that Frankenstein’s desire for playing God is more dangerous than Prometheus stealing fire. Fire would have come to man through lightning, but man is not made to create life. Both of these people did something that they would help mankind and both were punished for their actions. Frankenstein’s punishment was worse than Prometheus due to the fact that he had to see his family die and also he found his own death.
Prometheus crossed boundaries, just like Frankenstein. This article said that all scientific breakthroughs are the result of arrogance. I think that this is not always the case, but Frankenstein helps to further this point. If Frankenstein had not been so arrogant, he would never have discovered the monster. But there are a lot of cases where this is not the case, because there is a difference between innocent research and totally disreagarding morals.
Like Prometheus, Frankenstein did things that man is not meant to do. Prometheus gave fire to humans, which the gods did not want him to do so he was punished. Frankenstein was arrogant like Prometheus and tried to play God by creating life. He crossed the line and was punished as well.
Frankenstein is a lot like Prometheus. Both Frankenstein and Prometheus went beyond what they should have. Prometheus gave mankind fire and Frankenstein found the secret of life. Both could have used this for good, but they were ambitious and crossed boundaries. Both Frankenstein and Prometheus were punished for what they did. They both intended good, but their arrogance led to suffering.
Frankenstein is like Prometheus because they both crossed thresholds that were set up by customs and they should not have been crossed. Dr. F’s crime was more serious because he was creating life and that is much more serious than the whole fire thing. The way the people were affected shows that both were not supposed to be done. The themes that are present correlate between both stories and this shows how the themes of Frankenstein are present throughout Literature.
There are many valid reasons why Frankenstein is titled The Modern Prometheus. Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to mankind. He was punished because the gods believed that fire was not a power that people should have. What Frankenstein did was very similar to this. He stole a power reserved for god alone, the ability to create life, and used it himself to create the monster. Prometheus and Frankenstein both believed that to be a good scientist you have to question everything. They were both entreprenuers of a sort, coming up with new ideas. Both of the things they did were great but also evil. And they were punished in the end for these things.
This article relates to Frankenstein in many ways. Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to man. Victor stole the ability to create mankind, something that should remain to god. They do however both raise questions of what is too much for man to do. They were both punished for what they did because they crossed the line. I think that it is valid to have “the modern prometheus” in the title of the book.
Prometheus crossed boundaries, just like Frankenstein. This article said that all scientific breakthroughs are the result of arrogance. I think that this is not always the case, but Frankenstein helps to further this point. If Frankenstein had not been so arrogant, he would never have discovered the monster.I think that it is valid to have “the modern prometheus” in the title of the book.