Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus

928 Words2 Pages

Frankenstein, also known to some as "The Modern Prometheus" is a novel written by Mary Shelley who introduces the protagonist Victor Frankenstein, an unconventional scientist that has an obsession with reviving the dead to life thus creating the infamous Creature. Through an archetypal perspective Mary Shelley uses many allusions, analogies, and parallel structure to convey the underlying meaning of her novel as seen through the characters in her book such as Victor Frankenstein and the Creature. The message of her novel is that technology and science are both powerful tools and when using these tools for great power it can corrupt an individual leading to an evident downfall due to a lack of responsibility and monstrosity within oneself.
A brief synopsis of the novel Frankenstein begins with letters written by Robert Walton, an explorer, addressed to his sister about his adventures at sea near the North Pole where he meets Victor Frankenstein. After nursing Frankenstein back to health Mary Shelley uses frame story, a tactic that makes a story appear as if it isn't directly narrated by Victor Frankenstein but it's actually Robert Walton's recollection of what Victor Frankenstein told him. From Frankenstein's point of view the reader learns that Frankenstein isn't as fantastic as Walton describes him. Frankenstein tells the story of how he was obsessed with life which brings him to tempt the righteousness of humanity by reviving the dead. By doing so he breaks one of the natural rules of life by recreating it from the dead forbidden in many cultures. He is originally repulsed by the Creature's appearance and scared the Creature away with his reaction. Victor Frankenstein flees to the forest and abandons his responsibility to take ...

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...after the death of Clerval Frankenstein did not fall into despair he takes action by stalking the Creature to gain revenge to killing everyone he’s loved.

Works Cited

Andy Rants. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. .
Beyond the Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. .
Frankenstein, Or, The Modern Prometheus. Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Maurice Hindle.London: Penguin, 2003. Print.
The European Graduate School. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. .
Prezi. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. .
Reading Between the Lines. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. .

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Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus

Frankenstein