Frankenstein Research Paper

Emilie Monestime

Mrs. Wehnes

Honors English IV

March 6, 2023

The Chaotic Sequence that is Frankenstein

Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley, shares many similarities with the myth of Prometheus. She wrote Frankenstein to capitalize on the classic Greek story and as a cautionary tale to warn others of the consequences of altering the natural cycle of life. As a result, her novel ponders whether individuals can assume the position of God without repercussions. A focused study of this 1819 gothic novel will reveal, through analysis of character and plot, that the relentless pursuit of knowledge, attempts at playing God, and the violation of the natural order of life can only result in chaos; however, one also learns, through

Prometheus steals fire from Zeus and has to face the ramifications for his actions, which is to be chained to a rock and have parts of his liver eaten everyday by an eagle. Likewise, in Frankenstein, Victor interferes and alters the natural order of life and death by constructing a new creature from dead body parts, “With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, 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 (41).” In this quote, one can understand that Victor himself gathered parts with the intention to create one living being. For this action, Frankenstein experiences the death of multiple family members and friends at the hands of his own creation. Prometheus and Victor Frankenstein both share an insatiable desire for knowledge, which ultimately leads to their downfall. For Victor Frankenstein, this aspiration sparked when he was eighteen and witnessed an uncommon spectacle, “When we visited it the next morning, we found the tree shattered in a singular manner. It was not splintered by the shock, but entirely

In Prometheus, the consequences of robbing the fire from the gods affect not only himself, but also humanity when Pandora’s box was opened, thus resulting in the suffering of both Prometheus and humanity. In Frankenstein, the creature invokes destruction, chaos, and death, making Victor aware of his great responsibility as the creature's creator. However, he quickly fails to uphold it. For example, as soon as the creature is animated to life, Victor’s first instinct is to run away, but in doing so, he has abandoned it; Thus expelling any sense of love that the creature could have experienced. “Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room, and continued a long time traversing my bed-chamber, unable to compose my mind to sleep (42).” The only responsibility Victor had left was to nurture the creature he made, but instead, he abandoned him. The creature’s actions in return are parallel to what he told Victor. ''If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear. (121).” Another instance in which Victor shirks responsibility is earlier in the story, when Justine, a family friend, is framed for the death of William, though it was the creature who killed him. “A thousand times rather would I have confessed myself guilty of the crime ascribed to Justine ; but I was absent