A Re-creation Of The Prometheus Myth

Frankenstein, a classic Gothic novel by British woman writer Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, is the first science fiction in the history of Western literature.The novel can be regarded as remodeling of the myth of Prometheus. Through the"creating man"story of the main character Frankenstein, the modern Prometheus, Mary Shelley expresses not only the anxiety about the development of science & technology and its consequence, but the pondering of the relationship between human being and society. Frankenstein creates a person through experiments, which is similar to the myth of Prometheus who is created by clay. But the difference between them is that Frankenstein is just an ordinary human. He is proud and vain and regards himself as the"Creator", but he creates a terrible nightmare ugly monster. He is not responsible and finally destroyed by his creature. Although they hate each other, there are still some similarities between Frankenstein himself and his creature. The tall and vicious monster is the externalization of Frankenstein's ugly heart. This kind of relationship between the"creator"and the"creature", to some extent, reflects the attitudes prevailing in the society at that time, which later influences science fiction deeply.In Greek mythology, Prometheus steals the fire on behalf of wisdom and knowledge in spite of the opposition of Zeus, and sends it to the earth. In Frankenstein, the heroine is not only a"creator", but also a"fire stealer". The"fire"he has stolen shows us not only the powerful force of knowledge, but also the tremendous destructive force. This"three-layer"narrative manner,"Walton captain - Frankenstein– monster", helps us to know the relationship of the three and the theme of novels. In the novel, the characters'curiosity of discontentment, their desire for knowing everything and their will to be remembered by benefiting mankind make their actions manifested as a"counter-god course."Their"degenerateness"(or"seeking") of the"Faust"style causes a devastating consequence. Frankenstein has become a prototype of a"Crazy Scientist"or a"Science crackpot"who, driven by curiosity, is in pursuit of his desire regardless of the consequence. The uncontrolled development and the devastating consequence of"Faust style pursuit"have become the main theme of many science fictions nowadays.The story of Prometheus is the favorite literary material of romantic poets, but the way in which Mary Shelley deals with this story is different from that of Percy Shelley and Byron. There's no doubt that Mary Shelley is affected by the romantic thought and the emotional mode, so the characters in the novel are surging with a romantic passion, desiring the novel things, strange and magical region, and adventure. This kind of poetic imagination and fantasy is different from the scientific spirit. They love"Nature", which they think is magnificent and makes people stay away from the stains caused by civilization and technology, and cultivates their body and mind and feelings. On the other hand, through the experience of Frankenstein and other characters in the novel, Mary Shelley conveys her potential concerns about the expansionary, unrestrained romanticism emotion. The"Nature"they live in is the edge of civilization or a vacuum zone and the desolate places reflects their serious spiritual and emotional loneliness. Extreme individualistic pursuit is destruction to the traditional social rules. The performance of the romantic novel characteristics, such as the expansion of the personality is to be assigned to more negative figures, which is punished and alerted. The qualities such as quietness, indifference, restraining oneself from others and self-sacrifice are all praised and commended.The"Modern Prometheus"has had a significant impact on the later science fiction. The pursuit of the relationship between characters and creatures in the novel, the concern about the progress of science and technology and the suspicion of the human's ideals have all been used in the later fictions so far. The connecting significance of the novel an important part in the history of literature is worthy of research. After 200 years, many modern issues revealed in the novel are still worth our careful consideration.