This paper explores how Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein uses the Prometheus myth to engage with central Romantic-era themes, particularly those of education, family, and scientific ambition. The novel presents Victor Frankenstein as a modern Prometheus, whose pursuit of knowledge leads to tragic consequences. Through intertextual references—especially to classical mythology, Enlightenment philosophy, and literature like Paradise Lost—Shelley critiques the dangers of unchecked scientific progress and the moral failures of a creator who abandons his creation. The analysis emphasizes the dual role of education: for Victor, it becomes a source of hubris and isolation; for the creature, education fosters empathy, self-awareness, and a tragic longing for acceptance. Similarly, family is shown as a source of moral grounding—Victor benefits from a loving but emotionally distant family, while the creature suffers due to total social and emotional abandonment. Shelley's narrative structure and interwoven myths highlight the importance of responsibility, emotional education, and belonging. The paper concludes that Frankenstein is a cautionary tale about ethical responsibility in science and society. Through her layered use of myth and Romantic ideals, Mary Shelley illustrates how both education and family can either nurture or destroy, depending on how they are embraced or denied.
- Quote paper
- Peter Altmannsdorfer (Author), 2022, Frankenstein, Education and Family. The Influence of Education and Family in Mary Shelley’s "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1597894
