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Frankenstein Or The Modern Prometheus Analysis

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INTRODUCTION
Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus is an English novel written by Mary Shelley and published in 1818. It is currently considered as one of the greatest classics of Western literature, a masterpiece which is rich in both character portrayal and historical description. Among other things, this novel tries to give answers to several philosophic question that have tormented the human beings since the beginning. The main character, Victor Frankenstein creates a well-known monster that is actually the embodiment of chaos and confusion; the final result of a behaviour morally reprehensible.
In order to understand Shelley 's time, we must give some explanations and details regarding the historical context. Mary Shelley was born in …show more content…

He was the main responsible for bringing mankind knowledge and enlightenment to the human beings by stealing the Fire from the Gods of Mount Olympus. Because of that, Prometheus was harshly punished for the eternity: he was chained to a rock where his liver would be eaten out every day by an eagle; it would grow back every night. Frankestein is considered a Modern Prometheus because both characters share common aspects like the seek of enlightenment and power. Besides, Victor Frankestein also had to deal with the consequence of his …show more content…

No mortal could support the horror of that countenance. A mummy again endued with animation could not be so hideous as that wretch. I had gazed on him while unfinished; he was ugly then, but when those muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion, it became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived". (Frankestein, p. 57)
Additional, the novel employs some facts that can be extracted from the Prometheus legend: the story takes place within natural elements rather than the realm of a supernatural atmosphere. Besides, Victor Frankenstein and the monster that he created, are the two main characters that dominate the work. Their struggle fight is with each other and not with God or supernatural elements. They use ordinary the weapons found in earth and not tools from heaven.
Besides, we may state that Victor is a sort of representation of mankind because (perhaps Shelley through him) he was letting us think that maybe human begins could cross the natural limits that creation establish inexorably. We must take into account that in Shelley’s time, the scientific breakthroughs as electricity would make people think all over these issues regarding evolution and technology, although the final reflection is linked to the (in) ability of mankind to accept its natural

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