How does the subtitle "The Modern Prometheus" help Shelley emphasize the underlying meaning of his story? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Mary Shelley's work Frankenstein is a symbolic representation of the doubts and fears that she and her contemporaries shared about the advances of science in the nineteenth century (Britton, 2-3). In order for Shelley to fully convey his feelings about the dangers of scientific aspiration, he uses the myth of Prometheus and uses it as a subtitle for Frankenstein. In doing this, Shelley actively, but subtly, encourages the reader to draw comparisons between Prometheus and Frankenstein, helping them to fully understand the implications of Frankenstein's actions and how he embodies Shelley's warning about overemphasizing the value of science in society. Located in both Roman and Greek mythology, Prometheus is credited with the creation of man and, later, the theft of fire from the sky to provide man with heat and the ability to cook food (Pontikis, 1-3 ). Prometheus' ambition takes him on a journey to improve the lives of the men he created and loves, but in doing so he defies Zeus' commands and as a result is severely punished for his actions by being chained to a rock. When examined in this context, Prometheus may be an appropriate symbol for Victor Frankenstein. Frankenstein's ambition to bestow life on an inanimate object became the sole driving force in his life. He was drawn to the belief that “a new species will bless me as its creator and source” (Norton, 933) ironically ignoring real-life relationships with those who loved him dearly. Like Prometheus, this decision to defy the natural law of the world left Frankenstein a tormented and broken man, embodying Shelley's concern with the consequences of a deified approach to science. Frankenstein and Prometheus, although both seemingly acting benevolently, actually offered a distorted blessing. Fire in the case of Prometheus can be used for both good and evil, and consequently Frankenstein's ability to bestow life on inanimate objects leads to evil, which can be witnessed in the demon's destructive actions, as well as his same selfish actions and in cold treatment. towards its creation. The repercussions of Frankenstein and Prometheus' actions leave both of them suffering. In the myth of Prometheus, the protagonist is punished for his actions by Zeus, and the creation of Pandora is carried out by Zeus as a means of punishing both man and their creator Prometheus. Pandora receives a box from Zeus and is told not to open it. Yet she is so overcome with curiosity that she too defies Zeus' commands and by opening the box releases the evils of the world to torment humanity (Pontikis, 4). It is through this story that the term “Pandora's Box” was born. This is an interesting analogy when applied to Frankenstein's actions of animating his daemon. He too opens a “Pandora's box” that gives him consequences that he is not prepared or equipped to face. This seems to be a strong underlying theme in Shelley's novel. She is concerned about the impetuous desire of human beings to achieve omnipotent power. This desire is still present in the world today; in fact it could be argued that it has been present on an even larger scale since the birth of genetic engineering and its scientific branches. This may be one reason why Shelley's novel still enjoys popularity today; raises a thought-provoking question about human nature's desire to achieve statusdivine and presents our collective social responsibility for educating present and future generations about the dangers of such ambition. If we consider the fall of Frankenstein as a warning, then it is clear that any attempt to create life outside of the naturalLaws that govern the world would be nothing more than a selfish act untethered from moral and social obligations. A further point that the subtitle The Modern Prometheus serves to highlight concerns the role of women in society. As mentioned, Prometheus is considered the creator of man in Roman and Greek mythology. He, however, is not directly credited with the creation of women; this was an act instituted by Zeus as punishment against Prometheus for his love for his creation (man) (Pontikis, 3-4). Interestingly, in ancient mythologies, women were created for the purpose of punishment and not for joy or companionship. The Prometheus myth portrays women in a negative way. Until the creation of the beautiful but troubled Pandora, there is not a single mortal woman present in the story. This is another interesting allusion to the Prometheus myth when contextualized to the story of Frankenstein. All the women in the Frankenstein novel die prematurely: Frankenstein's mother dies before his daemon is animated; Elizabeth remains an orphan following the death of her mother during childbirth; Justine, young William's nurse, is unjustly convicted of his murder and executed; and Elizabeth herself is ultimately killed shortly before consummating her marriage to Frankenstein on their wedding night (Norton, 905-1033). Following Frankenstein's immediate rejection of his creation, it becomes apparent that the demon is destined not only to be motherless, but also partnerless. Also. The misfortune of the female characters in the novel could probably have been deliberately instilled by Shelley as a means of commenting on the role of women in the society of the time, but it could also have been a direct representation of the lack of a strong female role model in one's life and the sense of abandonment that it evoked (Literary Encyclopedia, 3). The ideology of the second suggestion is present in the dream that Frankenstein has following the creation of his monster. He describes an encounter with Elizabeth where as he kisses her she transforms into the corpse of her dead mother (Norton, 935). These references to women and the lack of strong male-female relationships are an important aspect of Shelley's story. Keep in mind: This is just one example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Mary Shelley presents a compelling portrait of Victor Frankenstein as a modern-day Prometheus. His ambitions and actions may be less noble than those of Prometheus, yet the results of their attempts to usurp the natural order of the world by animating "lifeless clay" (Norton, 933) result in similar results. Frankenstein personifies the self-glorification so characteristic of today's society, a trait he obviously also represented in Shelley's society. Works Cited Britton, K. (2017). Scientific morality in Frankenstein: A case for science education. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 54(4), 451-470. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.21356Norton, R. (2016). Frankenstein (3rd ed.). W. W. Norton & Company. Pontikis, N. (2019). The myth of Prometheus. Encyclopedia of Ancient History. https://www.ancient.eu/prometheus/Cribb, J. (2017). Frankenstein and the female subversion of the novel. The Journal of Gender Studies, 26(3), 269-277. Mellor, A. K. (1990). Possessing Nature: The Female in Frankenstein. Feminist Studies, 16(2), 239-258. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3178064Botting, F. (2001). Making monstrous: Frankenstein, criticism,, 48(2), 201-218.