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Samantha Abarca

Mr. Davenport

AP Literature and Composition

12 December 2017

Connections From Greek Mythology to Present Popular Culture

Mary Shelley’s novel, ​Frankenstein​, has influenced many other works of literature and

film since it was published in 1818. Her novel is credited for being the first science fiction novel

that led to the popular new genre today. The novel’s lessons about the dangers of scientific

knowledge are commonly depicted in today’s films or literature. Although ​Frankenstein​ is

considered to be a science fiction novel, it also contains many characteristics of Gothic Literature

and Romanticism. The novel portrays Gothic Literature through dark and in-depth grotesque

descriptions, as well as Romanticism by showing contrasting admiration towards the natural

beauty of the world.

Frankenstein​ has been influential to other written works after it was published, however,

Shelley was influenced by another story herself. Shelley subtitled her novel, ​The Modern

Prometheus,​ which creates a connection to the Greek myth of Prometheus. Her novel contains

allusions to the story of Prometheus in Greek mythology. In the Greek myth, Prometheus had

created mankind and wanted to help them out they were defenseless. He deceived Zeus and stole

fire in order to gift it to mankind. Yet, he suffered consequences as a result of his misleading

actions. The Greek myth of Prometheus and the novel, ​Frankenstein,​ have become intertwined

into today’s science fiction films. For example, the film ​Prometheu​s (2012)​ ​, directed by Ridley
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Scott, shows heavy influences from Shelley’s ​Frankenstein​ and the Greek myth of Prometheus.

Aspects of Romanticism, Gothic Literature and science fiction are found within all three texts.

All three texts share similar major themes: revenge, fate and free will, and the question of life

and existence.

There are many parallels between the Greek myth of Prometheus and Shelley’s novel,

Frankenstein​. Victor Frankenstein in Shelley’s novel shared a similar background to

Prometheus. Both Prometheus and Frankenstein create life in some way, such as how

Prometheus created mankind and Frankenstein created the creature. Prometheus and

Frankenstein both suffer punishment for pursuing forbidden knowledge. Prometheus deceives

Zeus and gives the humans the secret of fire to improve their lives. However, this leads to him

being chained to a rock and having his liver eaten everyday by an eagle for eternity for his

disobedience. Likewise, Frankenstein discovers the secret of creating life, but his creature led to

the death of his loved ones and himself. The characters’ well-intended offerings weren’t accepted

by mankind because of their exterior appearance. Prometheus’ offering of fire was frightful to

mankind, although he knew that it was good because it would benefit their way of living.

Frankenstein’s creature had a similar reaction on mankind because of its appearance, although it

was initially good and kind. It is a shame mankind reacted the way they did towards their

offerings, which contrasts their appreciation for the beauty of the natural world.

Romanticism is present in the Greek myth of Prometheus, Shelley’s novel, and the film

Prometheus​ through emphasis on the beauty of the natural world. There are times in each text

where the focus is solely on the beauty of the character’s surroundings. In the Greek myth,

Prometheus shows appreciation towards fire by referring to it as a “divine gift.” He finds it to be

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so important to one’s well-being that he gives it to mankind to improve their life. In

Frankenstein​, Victor Frankenstein is often seen observing the beauty of nature that surrounds his

home in awe. He finds observing this beautiful scenery as a way of calming down and sorting

things in his mind. In ​Frankenstein​, Shelley focuses on lengthy descriptions of Frankenstein’s

surroundings to emphasize his admiration towards it. Likewise, in the opening of the film

Prometheus​, a considerable amount of time is given solely to show the visual appeal of nature

such as the calm, blue waterfalls and vast mountains. Later in the film, space is portrayed with

such excellence, which evokes feelings of amazement from David, an android created by

humans.

Another characteristic of Romanticism found within all three texts is the focus on an

individual’s direct opposition to rules or society’s norms. In the Greek myth, Prometheus

decided to steal from the gods when Zeus prevented him from giving fire to the humans. He

chose to do what he thought was best for the humans, instead of what obeying what he was told

to do by Zeus. In the novel, Frankenstein pursued ideas of philosophers that were seen as

nonsense to other people, such as his father. Yet, it ultimately motivated him to study more from

these philosophers since no one else would explain why these ideas weren’t worth pursuing.

Similarly in the film, Charlie, the leader of the group, often disregarded what his boss or other

members ordered him to do. He took many risks without thinking about the consequences, such

as taking off his helmet when the air levels were labeled to be extremely toxic because it felt

great to him. Although, Charlie should’ve listened to his members and why they were wary of

the area.
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Aspects of Gothic Literature are present in the Greek myth of Prometheus, Shelley’s

novel, and the film ​Prometheus​ through grotesque descriptions and characters that exemplify

monstrosities. In the Greek myth, the depiction of Prometheus’ punishment is quite gruesome

and repulsive to the reader because it distorts the image of what he once was. In ​Frankenstein​,

the language used to describe Frankenstein’s procedure of making the creature can be seen an

example of grotesqueness. The creature is similarly considered to be repulsive and a monstrosity

because of its horrible appearance. The film ​Prometheus​ created similar scenes that left the

audience feeling grossed out. In the film, Dr. Shaw performs a emergency procedure on herself

where a squid-like creature is removed from her body. The intensity of the surgery evokes terror

in Dr. Shaw, similar to how Frankenstein felt once he saw his creation. Another example within

the film is Charlie’s transition into a evil being. Charlie consumes an ooze-like substance that

later affects his health and transforms him into a monster. Like Frankenstein’s creature, Charlie’s

new physical state evokes a feeling of terror and repulsiveness from the audience due to both of

their horrible appearances. However, the audience should acknowledge the advancements made

within all three texts.

Science fiction is present on varying levels within all three texts. Prometheus did not

have the same advanced technology as the group in the film ​Prometheus​. On the other hand,

Prometheus did have fire, which was advanced for mankind at the time and presented a “what if”

scenario, where it was depicted how mankind responded to the gift of fire. In ​Frankenstein​, his

use of lightning to bring his creature to life was highly unbelievable because it was considered to

be advanced technology. In the film ​Prometheus​, the technology used is so futuristic and

unimaginable to mankind today. In the film, the group of researchers are seen using scanners to
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map an entire area or suits that enclose them in a safe breathing environment to prevent exposure

to toxic levels of air. Frankenstein created a creature out of dead tissue, whereas ​Prometheus

took that idea a step further through the creation of an android named David that was often

confused to be an actual human. In the novel ​Frankenstein​ and the film ​Prometheus​, the

question, “What would happen if a scientist had god-like abilities?” is answered.

The theme of fate and free will is found within each of the texts. In the Greek myth of

Prometheus, his decision to give mankind fire when he was told not to is what led him to his

suffering because it was his choice to listen to Zeus or disobey. In ​Frankenstein​, the creature

blames others and his appearance for his malevolent actions towards Frankenstein’s loved ones.

What the creature doesn’t acknowledge is that it was his decision to do harm to those that were

fearful of his appearance. In the film ​Prometheus​, Charlie tells Ms. Vickers to blaze him with her

torch because he is fearful of what he is transforming into. Although Dr. Shaw pleads with him,

he goes against what she wants and decides to end his life. It was Charlie’s own decision to not

be the cause of harm to others, unlike the creature.

The theme of revenge, especially the change in one’s nature from good to evil, is present

within all three texts. In the Greek myth of Prometheus, Zeus shows gratitude towards

Prometheus until he deceives him, which causes him to be angry and punish him. In

Frankenstein​, the creature initially is innocent and good. However, once he experiences a

negative rejection from his first interaction with a family, he decides to seek revenge on

mankind. Likewise in the film ​Prometheus​, the android David is charismatic and well-liked by

the members onboard. He begins to change his ways once Charlie tells David he was built
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“because we could,” which must have angered him. David later puts a black ooze in his drink

that eventually kills Charlie. As David said, “it might feel like your god abandoned you.”

The most prevalent theme in all three texts is the question of life and existence. In the

Greek myth of Prometheus, mankind is unaware of what to do with themselves and how to use

their upright posture to their advantage. In ​Frankenstein​, the creature questions Frankenstein

what his reason was for creating him if he was only going to abandon him for his appearance.

The creature feels he will never be accepted by society and that he has no purpose in life, besides

seeking revenge on those who hurt him. In the film ​Prometheus​, David asks Charlie, “What

would you feel if you heard the same thing from your creator?” when Charlie states David was

made solely because they had the ability to do so. David is similar to the creature in the way that

they both question their creators for their reason of existence. Both David and the creature are

alienated from society, but not by their own choice. If they weren’t treated the way they were,

David and the creature could’ve had a better ending in both texts.

Mary Shelley could not have predicted that her novel would continue to have a great

impact many decades after it was published. Although her novel ​Frankenstein ​influenced many

other literary works or films, Shelley herself was inspired by the Greek myth of Prometheus. The

connections between the two stories can be found in films such as ​Prometheus​ today. Aspects of

Romanticism, Gothic Literature, and especially science fiction are depicted thoroughly in all

three texts. The main themes of revenge, fate and free will, and life and existence are prevalent in

the Greek myth of Prometheus, the novel ​Frankenstein​, and the film ​Prometheus​. It is up to new

ideas in the science fiction genre to determine what the next connection will be for literary works

or films in the future.