How is Victor Frankenstein a modern Prometheus?
Maybe think about: What causes Victor Frankenstein to embark on his isolated, unnatural pursuit?
What does it mean to be a creator and what are the responsibilities that are inherent in creating?
How does Victor Frankenstein ultimately differ from Prometheus?
What is the significance of each man’s punishment?
Please use specific details from the text and build off of each other's responses!
Also, feel free to respond to the text in general (in addition to a comment connected with Prometheus).
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According to ancient Greek mythology, Prometheus molded man out of clay. Not only is he credited with creation, but his extreme sense of wit and knowledge. He is seen constantly using his wisdom to outsmart the gods and break boundaries set by higher diety. He is always trying to better mankind in a scheming manner, and pays the ultimate punishment. After he steals fire and royal food from the gods, Zues stakes him to a mountain while an eagle eternally eats from his liver. Frankenstein is very similar to Prometheus in terms of his thirst to create something and desire to open up new doors. In his isolation he becomes obsessed with finding the key to life and doing it independently. After two years of depriving himself of health and sanity, his work is finished. Once he has completed his "dream" however, the reality of his situation becomes a nightmare. What he thought was beautiful and necessary for his fufillment was indeed a trap to self torture."Mingled with this horror, I felt the bitterness of dissapointment; dreams that had been my food and pleasant rest for so long a space were now become a hell to me.."(61). As a creator, someone or something takes on the role of responsibility. They decided to make or produce something and therefore naturally inherit accountability. Frankenstein is obviously blind to this fact seeing as he continuously defies nature by becoming an unnatural creator. The ultimate difference between Frankenstein and Prometheus is how Frankenstein disobeys the natural order of life to fufill his own self wishes. Prometheus was told to make man, and took his role to far after that. Both of the character's punishments are eternal and constant, serving as a just reminder of their faulty choices.
ReplyDelete-Amanda Rammy
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ReplyDeleteWhile Prometheus can be considered the true father of man, Frankenstein is a father of a new species. Throughout the novel, Shelley makes many references to parenting with the best intentions that have gone wrong. Frankenstein's parents were loving and openly cared about him. While they did not ever neglect Frankenstein, they did not manage to keep his life going on the right track. When the Frankenstein's father makes a remark about the uselessness of Agrippa, Frankenstein continues to read, admitting that if his father had made more of an effort to explain his views, "[he] should have certainly thrown Agrippa aside"(46). His parents did not take lengths to discourage him, and as a result, withdrew into science later in life.
ReplyDeleteFrankenstein too neglected his responsibilities to the Monster, in a way his child. Frankenstein's emotions overcame him, and ran away after seeing the monster. He refuses to think of the monster until he comes in contact with him on the way to the house. Frankenstein believed his intentions were pure when he first created his creature, trying to delve further into the world of science, but his neglect led to horrendous consequences.
Finally, Prometheus had good intentions in creating man and providing them with fire. However, as this went against the instructions of Zeus, he was punished. One key difference between Prometheus and Frankenstein was that Prometheus never truly neglected his creations, providing them with items they needed. Prometheus also cared for his son in the story of the Great Flood. If Frankenstein had not neglected the creature, the murder of his brother could have been prevented.
Shelby
The story of Prometheus is about cheating the gods in order to help mankind. The idea of cheating the gods is a common element in both Prometheus and Frankenstein. Life is created and taken away (some may say) by god. In Frankenstein, Victor is attempting to bring the dead back to life, therefore defying the gods. Prometheus did this by giving man fire. Both characters go against the gods to in a way become gods themselves. Victor Frankenstein says "A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me" (58). He sees himself as a god, creating man. This quote also reminded me of Prometheus where he says "a new species would bless me as its creator and source" because Prometheus did in fact create man out of clay. Frankenstein feels that power and feels like a god in that moment.
ReplyDeleteKelsey G.
Great start! I like how you each took a different approach to this. Nice ideas about cheating the gods,responsibility and neglect.
ReplyDelete=LC
Victor Frankenstein and Prometheus share many things in common but also have some differences. One of the main similarities is that they both are trying to create man. One thing I found interesting was that because Frankenstein was trying to be like a god and create man, he was almost trying to be like Prometheus. Another interesting thing that I noticed was that when after Frankenstein made the monster come to life he said that "the form of the monster on whom i had bestowed existence was forever before my eyes" (64). This is a great connection to how Prometheus created pandora to deliver misfortune to mankind, and that the monster that Frankenstein created is almost a symbol of what Prometheus bestowed upon mankind.
ReplyDelete-Haley
Frankenstein can be linked to the God Prometheus by the punishment that the two of the creators suffered from their creation. Prometheus suffered eternally for his defiance against the will of Zeus. As a result, Prometheus was forced to an eternity of torure. Frankenstein has a very similar in degree punishment for his defiance of the natural ordr of things. The scientist must now live the rest of his life with the inextinguishable pang of guilt that he must proceed to carry with him for the rest of his being. His mental guilt of his brother's death may even rival the physical pain of Prometheus' liver being eaten every day. Frankenstein must see the sorrowful faces of his family each day of his life, and for each teary face that the young doctor must see, the guilt revives itself deep within his chest. The doctor constanly describes himself as "frettered again with grief, and indulging in all the misery of reflection" (90). Frankenstein is eternally in grief and he feels as if he is beyond consolation. This pained heart and mental suffering may even equal the recurring pain of one's liver being eaten on a daily basis.
ReplyDelete-Jeff B
Victor Frankenstein himself is a Promethean character in every aspect. Frankenstein's ambitions from the start of his horrific experiment was to create a new species "that would bless me as its creator and source" and "pour a torrent of life into our dark world"(58). Frankestein strove to rise himself above humanity to the level of a God, such as Prometheus and his creation of the creatures of the world and humans. Like Prometheus, Frankenstein tries to help humanity with forbidden arts as Prometheus gave fire to humanity though Zeus forbade it. Though the experiment or "creation" has the potential to help humans, as fire did, the danger of the experiment creates severe punishments for the maker. Frankenstein and Prometheus suffer horribly for their experiments and their overstep of boundaries. Prometheus has his liver eaten anew each day by a vicious eagle, while Frankenstein suffers mental anguish and haunting guilt for the murders of his creation. But as Frankenstein learns, with creation comes death inevitably and that being the father of a an inhuman creature puts an inhuman burden on his shoulders.
ReplyDeleteSide note I wanted to mention: I saw a huge connection between Henry Clerval, Frankenstein's best friend and loyal companion and Quincey Morris, the best friend and loyal companion in Dracula. Along with many other connections between Dracula and Frankenstein, these two Romantic and gentlemanly characters are foils against their main-characters they support and exhibit the natural potential of humanity.
With Undying love,
Count Daniel Von McNulshtein
I agree with Jeff in that Prometheus and Frankenstein are relatable in that they share similar consequences as a result of their actions. Both created a new species; Prometheus created mankind, while Frankenstein crafted a monster. According to ancient Greek myths, Prometheus was given the responsibility to mold man, creating them however he wished. Prometheus took a special liking to mankind and wished to bestow upon them a special gift. So he stole fire from Zeus and gave it to mortals. As a punishment, Prometheus was eternally chained to the side of a mountain, where his liver was constantly chewed upon by a preying eagle.
ReplyDeleteLikewise, Frankenstein endures pain as a result of his creation, only his is emotional rather than physical. After spawning a monster, Frankenstein is completely ignorant as to its capabilities. This monster attacks and kills his younger brother, and later is responsible for the death of the accused Justine. While Frankenstein does not murder either of these victims, he is indirectly responsible for both, since the murderer was his creation. Frankenstein completely understands this concept and hates himself for creating this monster in the first place. While constantly blaming himself, Frankenstein “wept bitterly, and wished that peace would revisit [his] mind… But that could not be. Remorse extinguished every hope” (87). With the burden of killing two people very close to him, Frankenstein feels very guilty. His family starts to fall apart and even his beautiful sister Elizabeth, who is constantly described as a goddess, beautiful in every way, goes through hardships and falls apart. From this point on, Frankenstein lives in constant torment and begins to loathe himself for ever creating such a monster.
-Kelsey F.
Victor Frankenstein feels it is his destiny, or duty by some greater power to fufill this mission of his--he wants to create life, a power not belonging to mortals. Prometheus was actually on a mission from Zeus, but took it too far(when he stole fire from Zeus)--so did Frankenstein. He discovered new ways of science, but took it too far in that he kind of stepped into forbidden territory--he in a way 'stole' something that belongs to a greater force than himself, the ability to create life.
ReplyDeleteWhat Prometheus did, he did because he cared for mankind. Frankenstein's motives were selfish: he desired the knowledge and pride for himself only.
Prometheus gets his liver eaten out by an eagle while he's chained to a rock...that sucks.
Frankenstein gets to see his family die from the creature he created..."I considered the being whom I had cast among mankind...nearly in the light of my own vampire, my own spirit let loose from the grave, and forced to destroy all that was dear to me."(76)Kind of like the eagle coming back to pick out his liver (like family is a part of you...created you...) although not in a physical sense. Also he's his own eagle...the monster is in a way, him. In a way he himself is destroying 'all that is dear to' him. It's like Frankenstein destroyed the ones who created him by the one he created...but in a way he destroyed his creators himself...there's a brain twister.
-Ănnalisë Möschǣnbürg ©
(Danny's pimped-out name is an inspiration)
Prometheus is the Titan that was responsible for creating man, while Frankenstein was responsible for creating a “creature”. Both, as many have said before, go against the higher authority in creating this new “thing” (whether it is a god or society). They are seen as creators and with that title comes responsibilities…that neither of which were quite ready for. Even though they both had good intentions in mind, it only lead to their downfall. Prometheus wanted to privilege man with fire, and after doing so he as punished by the gods for eternity. As for Frankenstein, he wanted to break the line between life and death. He says on page 58, “ Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and put a torrent of light into our dark world”. Meaning that he wants to change how life and death is viewed. However, going forwards which a sense of such power, without thinking of the repercussions, lead to his idea (the creature) killing family members, while Prometheus was punished by the gods by having his liver eaten out everyday while chained on top of a mountain. Both end in pain and suffering...(one, of course, being a more physical pain).
ReplyDelete-Feen.
Both Prometheus and Victor brought new life into the world. Prometheus brought humans and Frankenstein created the creature. However, there are many differences between the two. While Prometheus was given his specific task, Frankenstein created his creature out of a thirst of knowledge and an obsessive desire to push the boundaries of science. In addition, whereas Prometheus immediately felt compassion to the under-equipped humans (even stealing fire for them), Frankenstein initially avoids and neglects his creation. Upon seeing it at night, he escapes it and starts to fear it already, writing, "I remained [in the courtyard] during the rest of the night...catching and fearing each sound as if it were to announce the approach of the demonical corpse to which I had so miseably given life" (61). With creating a living being, it is absolutely necessary for the creator to care for the creation. This is exactly like how a parent would care for a child he/she brought into the world. Like Amanda wrote, both creators were doomed suffer a punishment that lasts their entire life (or forever in the case of the immortal Titan). The bird was meant to continuously pick at Prometheus's liver, while Frankenstein will forever bear the guilt of his family's deaths.
ReplyDeleteFrankenstein and Prometheus are very similar to each other in a few ways. Both Prometheus, the titian who is responsible for creating humans, and Frankenstein, the ambitious scientist who creates a terrible "creature", seek to do something beyond what they are called to do. Prometheus had to defy Zeus by giving man knowledge while Frankenstein had to defy God by giving life. They will do anything they can to achieve their goals. There also seems to be a certain responsibility that comes with each creation. Man kind needs looking after as it is irresponsible and a danger to its own existence. At the same time, Frankenstein's creature needs to be looked after too because of all the havoc it causes. In addition, each of the creators suffers dire consequences for their creations. Prometheus is chained to a mountain where and Eagle comes and eats his liver every day. Frankenstein suffers more emotionally as the creature takes the life of his little brother, William, and consequently, the life of Justine. It is as if you bring something into the world, there is something that must also come out. Due to these similarities, Frankenstein can be rightly called "The Modern Prometheus".
ReplyDelete-Allison
There are many similarities between Frankenstein and Prometheus. The most apparent one is that each of them tried to create man. The major difference regarding this action they both did was that Prometheus was a god and Frankenstein was a man trying to step into the shoes of a god. By trying to rise above nature and create a new living being, Frankenstein made himself susceptible to endless torture. This is also similar to the physical torture Prometheus was receiving. However, the mental torture that he now suffers from is an endless burden that he cannot get rid of. Frankenstein describces his torment as the feelings that deprive the "soul both of hope and fear," (86). This shows that Frankenstein has no substantial feelings left except guilt, which ultimately will break him down.
ReplyDeleteKyle S.
Excellent posts overall! I especially like how Annalise wrote:
ReplyDeleteFrankenstein's "his own eagle...the monster is in a way, him. In a way he himself is destroying 'all that is dear to' him. It's like Frankenstein destroyed the ones who created him by the one he created...but in a way he destroyed his creators himself...there's a brain twister."
LC