Some even know how the author fabricated this story, but what they do not know is why did Mary Shelley subtitle her book Or, the Modern Prometheus? Could her story have anything to do with ancient Greek myth about the god named Prometheus?An analysis on the two characters, Prometheus and Dr. Frankenstein may explain why Mary Shelley subtitled her book Or, the Modern Prometheus. There are many similarities between the two main characters of these pieces of literature. Both Dr.
Frankenstein and Prometheus are known to be ambitious and they show this by pursuing their goal of creating life. Dr. Frankenstein said, "I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet" (Shelley 56).Similarly, the Greek myth says, "Prometheus first transmuted Atoms culled for human clay" (Legend of Prometheus).
When both these creatures were created the creators realize that their creations were missing something. Frankenstein said, "How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch who with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form? … His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing…" (Shelley 56), when he realizes that his creature is ugly.Frankenstein is so astonished to find his creation hideous that he runs away with feelings of horror. Prometheus too, feels dismay when he, "observed man and longed to bestow upon him some great power, unshared by any other creature of earth, which would raise him far above all other living beings, and bring him nearer to the perfection of the immortal gods" (Legend of Prometheus). Prometheus then decides to give man fire so that his creation will not die out on Earth. In Frankenstein the act of giving life to another person is an immoral thing for Frankenstein to do because it goes against all the laws of nature.
Prometheus too, goes against the laws of the gods and nature by stealing fire and giving it to man. His actions of defying the gods were astonishing and caused great alarm. He is said to have, "His audacious foot planted…Of the theft and the transmission, Of the fire of the Immortals" (Legend of Prometheus). After comparing the Prometheus myth and Frankenstein it is no surprise that Shelley draws parallels between Dr. Frankenstein and Prometheus. These two characters obviously have a lot in common and they show this by both being ambitious and going against the laws of nature.
