Comparison and Contrast of Prometheus Bound and Frankenstein

Comparison/Contrast between Aeschylus’s “Prometheus” and Shelly’s “Frankenstein” “Modern Prometheus,” commonly know as “Frankenstein,” is the complete title to Mary Shelley’s novel, in reference to the Greek myth involving Prometheus, a deity. The novel, the title being quite fitting, uses major themes involved with the Prometheus mythology for and against the moral she created. Themes such as isolation and loneliness were used as well as elements of fate and father-son relationships. In “Prometheus Bound” and “Frankenstein,” the protagonists are very alike in many ways. They created life, stole and got punished for what they did. Prometheus was a clever deity and a master craftsman who had the gift of prophecy. He created man from the spark of heaven for the purpose of creating a noble being, nobility that many Gods abused. He taught man the many crafts that were necessary for man’s survival. He enlightened man so that they would not have to do their own work. Prometheus taught man astronomy, to know seasons and animal domestication. He gave them language. He instructed his creation on how to build carriages and ships. He also gave them powers of medicine, soothsaying and extracting m

However, once the wound "healed," the monster struck again to prolong the agony. He is blind to the consequences of his actions and suffers for his hubris. In the Prometheus myth, the vulture tore at Prometheus"tms liver causing him great agony. Prometheus"tms suffering were long, terrible years of loneliness where he was wasted away by preyed vultures. " Frankenstein stated that "breathless horror and disgusts filled (his) heart" (Shelly 35) after looking at the creature. Prometheus was literally chained by his fate. There were also character similarities. Prometheus loved man unconditionally and tried to help them with all the power which was vested in him. Prometheus gave man fire and knowledge to assemble an easier existence in the world. But man lacked one crucial gift, that of fire. Themes of isolation and loneliness were gripped by both. Frankenstein declares, "Destiny was too potent, and her immutable laws had decreed my utter and terrible destruction" (Shelly 23). Frankenstein lived though the deaths of almost all the people he cared about which led to insanity. The disfigured look the monster possessed is what makes people flee at the sight of him. Due to his immortality, the liver would then rejuvenate and the vulture would once again destroy it.