The novel “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley can be compared to the legend of the god Prometheus. Dr. Frankenstein is a scientist who created life in the form of a creature using dead tissue. Prometheus, on the other hand, created the civilization of man by defying authority and stealing fire for mankind. Although these these characters and their circumstances are drastically different, they can be thoroughly compared.
In “Prometheus: The Friend of Man”, Logan Marshall writes about Prometheus defying orders by stealing fire in order to create a “simpler life” for “the children of the earth” after he was specifically directed not to. In a way, Prometheus created “life” for the humans because his introduction of fire led to them living more civilized and convenient lives. With fire, they were able to properly cook food, construct houses, and make weapons and tools. In “Frankenstein”, Mary Shelley’s character Dr. Frankenstein assembles
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Prometheus was chained and “lay miserably bound, naked to the winds”. Everyday, Prometheus suffered as an eagle “tore at his liver”, but not once did he “complain”, “beg for mercy”, or “repent” for what he had done. Prometheus did not repent because he knew that he had done the right thing for the humans and believed that he had nothing to apologize for. Dr. Frankenstein, however, was ashamed of his creation immediately after it came to life. The “catastrophe” of life that he had created left his heart full of “breathless horror and disgust”. After his expectations were not met, Frankenstein was full of fear, anger, and disgust and he began shouting at his creation. Frankenstein betrayed his creation while Prometheus remained loyal to the humans, even through all of his