The myth of Prometheus is one that revolves heavily around the pursuit of knowledge and the consequences that can follow it. Prometheus as a mythological figure pursues the knowledge of Zeus’ secret of fire and shares it with mankind, only to face grave consequences. This theme is also prevalent in other works of literature such as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, and John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost. These selected titles of work demonstrate the main characters’ Promethean pursuits of knowledge through conveying their motives and demonstrating the familial and authoritative consequences of obtaining too much knowledge. The Prometheus myth shows Prometheus facing the consequences …show more content…
After he steals fire from Zeus, his brother Epimetheus is tricked by the god and is given a wife, Pandora, to cause further damage. Pandora is given a jar and told not to open it. When she does, it unleashes everything evil unto the world and hope is left alone. Adam and Eve’s betrayal of God has similar results, and all of their innocence is lost and humankind has fallen. Any descendent of Adam and Eve’s is guaranteed to live a life of sin due to the uncontrollable desire for knowledge that causes their original ancestors to disobey God’s order to avoid the fruit. Okonkwo also experiences familial loss due to the discovery of new knowledge. After the colonists come to his village and begin to spread the message of Christianity, Okonkwo’s oldest son Nwoye becomes captivated with the religion. Okonkwo refuses to accept this and disowns his son. As imperialism continues to spread, he continues to fight back and eventually loses the support of his community. John from Brave New World also experiences a similar loss of family after he brings his mother back to the World State to learn more about where she is from. After the two make their way to the World State, John’s mother Linda begins to use large amounts of the drug Soma as a way of returning to her old way of life and eventually overdoses and dies, therefore destroying the only piece of family that John has ever had. Victor Frankenstein’s creation and abandonment of his creature cause the creature to seek revenge. Before killing Victor’s young brother William, the creature says "Frankenstein! you belong then to my enemy--to him towards whom I have sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim” (Shelley 136). He exacts this eternal revenge by continuing to kill members of Victor’s family and close group of friends until they are all gone and Victor is completely
Knowledge can be the key to success and can lead people to happier life. However, there are some instances that you can not gain any more knowledge because of how it would change your whole life. The drive of wanting more and more knowledge is best portrayed through two well -known books. In Mary Shelley’s, Frankenstein, and in Daniel Keyes, Flowers for Algernon, both the creature and Charlie are ostracized by society because they are different from everyone else but this distinction gave way for distinct fallouts because of their quest for knowledge beyond their reach to achieve happiness.
In his Allegory Plato shows us how a man ascends from the darkness of a cave to the light of the outside world. In this ascent Plato’s man passes through four distinct stages of cognition: from imagination, to belief, understanding, and finally knowledge.
Both Percy and Mary Shelley had written a different interpretation of the Prometheus myth; with Percy’s Prometheus Unbound and Mary’s Frankenstein. Both of these works had examples that showed how the characters projected themselves into other beings. It could be interpreted that Mary had the intention to criticize the way a strong feeling of wishing something that is beyond the laws of the natural world to happen is without regard for the consequences that could occur as a result. These outcomes cannot be planned or controlled. Despite the outward appearance or aspect of the emphases on knowledge and creation—traits that are often considered virtues—Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Percy Shelley’s Prometheus Unbound revealed the ways in which humans, in their desire for these virtues, can triumph over the unpredictability of nature. The visually descriptive and figurative language that each author utilized helped to show the advantage of the power of narrative as a means of expressing the characters’ egos which drove them to overreach for the dominance over nature and relate to real people.
“What is the point of being alive if you don’t at least try to do something remarkable?”-John Green, an American author of young adult fiction, such as The Fault in Our Stars, and the YouTube blogger of crash course history. The mythological character Prometheus and Victor from Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, try to influence mankind in a positive way, but instead the result is detrimental to society. Victor and Prometheus both want to help mankind, regardless, both overstep their bounds, and are severely punished. Although their true characters are revealed through how they handle their suffering.
Mary Shelley brings about both the positive and negative aspects of knowledge through her characters in Frankenstein. The use of knowledge usually has many benefits, but here Shelley illustrates how seeking knowledge beyond its limits takes away from the natural pleasures of known knowledge. She suggests that knowledge without mortality and uncontrolled passions will lead to destruction. Victor and his monster experience this destruction following their desires and losing self control. Walton, on the other hand, becomes of aware of the consequences and is able to turn back before it’s too late. Shelley also suggests that without enjoying the natural pleasures of life, pursuing knowledge is limited, but how can knowledge be limited if it is infinite?
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus. Edited with an Introduction and notes by Maurice Hindle. Penguin books, 1992
Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Maurice Hindle. Frankenstein, Or, The Modern Prometheus. London: Penguin, 2003. Print.
A predominant theme in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is that of child-rearing and/or parenting techniques. Specifically, the novel presents a theory concerning the negative impact on children from the absence of nurturing and motherly love. To demonstrate this theory, Shelly focuses on Victor Frankenstein’s experimenting with nature, which results in the life of his creature, or “child”. Because Frankenstein is displeased with the appearance of his offspring, he abandons him and disclaims all of his “parental” responsibility. Frankenstein’s poor “mothering” and abandonment of his “child” leads to the creation’s inevitable evilness. Victor was not predestined to failure, nor was his creation innately depraved. Rather, it was Victor’s poor “parenting” of his progeny that lead to his creation’s thirst for vindication of his unjust life, in turn leading to the ruin of Victor’s life.
According to Harriet Hustis in her essay “Responsible Creativity and the ‘Modernity’ of Mary Shelley’s Prometheus,” many themes circulate throughout the text, including responsible creativity, parental guidance, and compassion, but all are centered on individuality, especially in reference to inter-character relationships. The creature, upon which much controversy is based, is continuously searching for guidance and societal acceptance, thus implying that the heart of human consciousness and the human identity is compassion (Asquith). The candor of this statement however, is heavily reliant on the world views and values of the characters in question. Subsequently, these values and world views shape and define the individual’s identity, ultimately granting them a niche in society.
One should learn from the situations present in the novel because life comes with an enormous amount of knowledge; going after the unknown is an act of rebellion against God. Works Cited knowledge of the aforesaid. " Merriam-Webster.com -. Merriam-Webster, n.d. -. Web.
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus. The 1818 Text. New York: Oxford UP, 1998.
Okonkwo and Frankenstein begin to experience hardships. When a boy named Ikemefuna is taken from another tribe, he is placed in Okonkwo’s household. He becomes like a son to Okonkwo, and is liked by all of his family. The clan decides that it is now time to kill Ikemefuna.
Who was the person that was responsible for bringing fire to mankind? Prometheus. Who was chained to the top of a mountain and had his liver ate every day? Prometheus. Prometheus was a part of a group of might Gods known as Titans. Hesiod the poet called Prometheus a trickster and a troublemaker because he was always tricking others. He was a person that was smart that advised that the Titans use a plan before they entered the war because he felt it was smart in order to avoid a massive bloodbath.
Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft, Walter James Miller, and Harold Bloom. Frankenstein, Or, The Modern Prometheus. New York: New American Library, 2000. Print.
In Mary Shelley’s romantic novel Frankenstein Or The Modern Prometheus, she conveys many of the themes of the romantic period such as the romantic view of nature. Her novel follows the life of Victor Frankenstein as he develops an interest in natural physiology which gives him the inspiration to create the monster. The monsters creation affects many of the characters, and creates misery and grave consequences. Throughout Shelley’s novel many of the character’s ignorance, foolishness, or overconfidence blinds them from the harsh reality of the world.