Is Victor Frankenstein a modern Prometheus?

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Is Victor Frankenstein a modern Prometheus?

The full title of Mary Shelley’s gothic novel is: “Frankenstein, The Modern Prometheus.” Which allows us to make the analogy between Victor Frankenstein and the myth of Prometheus whom within Ovid actually moulds the first human out of clay. He is subsequently punished by the Gods and tied to Mount Caucasus where an eagle feeds on his liver all day, whilst at night the liver is renewed.

It is therefore clear that from just the title Shelley’s intentions were to relate these two tales together. The way Victor becomes “capable of bestowing animation upon lifeless matter” shows how both the character of Victor and the mythical Prometheus can be seen to be acting as God; only God is to create life.

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What drove Frankenstein to this was an unquenchable first for knowledge for how “any animal (is) endured with life” and a lack of understanding limitations. Similarly Prometheus is described to be an overreacher whom rebels against any restrictions set by the Gods in an attempt to achieve his utmost desire.

Nevertheless, some would argue that Frankenstein isn’t ‘Playing God’ like Prometheus, but being in a time where science was the dominant idea and continuous inventions were happening, Victor was simply playing with science:

“Became acquainted with the science of anatomy”

His discovery just went further than that of ...

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