Historical+Background

__**Historical Background ** __

**Romanticism vs. Classicism Brainstorm (Sarah Drumm) **



=**Shelley’s Other Title ** (Tara Hammonds) =

Another name for //Frankenstein// is //The Modern Prometheus//. Prometheus was a Titan in Greek mythology Consumed by hubris, he stole fire from the gods and gave it to the humans. Zeus punished him severely by tying him to a rock and having an eagle feast on his liver every day for eternity. Both the fire and the hubris in this story relates greatly to both the creature and the creator in //Frankenstein//.

Fire comes into play in the story twice during the creature's narrative. The first time is his discovery of fire. He is in the middle of the forest shivering from the cold when he comes across a leftover fire. He is so entranced by this new source of warmth that he actually puts his hand into it, only to withdraw from the intense heat. In this instance, the creature acts as Prometheus in his discovery of fire, a necessity for his life. Later in his tale, he continues his role as Prometheus by giving the fire to others. When he is staying in the hovel connected to the cottage, he notices that the family is destitute and that Felix pushes himself to provide wood for their fire so they can be protected from the cold. The creature, with benevolent intent, wants to help these cottagers, so he spends his time chopping large amounts of wood for the small family. The family, of course, does not know where this fuel for the fire came from, but is extremely grateful nonetheless. So here, the creature again is Prometheus by giving fire to the humans for their own use. Shelley uses this analogy to describe the intent of the creature, and perhaps to indicate what will happen to him in the future. Because in a way, fire does bring about his downfall. When he sets the De Lacy cottage on fire, that can be seen as his fall, when he goes from being a creature to the monster people believe him to be. Furthermore, his literal end will come from fire, as is shown through his decision to commit suicide by creating his own funeral pyre and lighting it on fire himself.

Fire is not the only similarity between the stories of the Prometheus and //Frankenstein//. There is also the theme of pushing boundaries, and when this side of the story is examined, it appears that Victor Frankenstein is the modern Prometheus. Prometheus was hubristic in his attempt to gain knowledge that he did not deserve. Victor, too, attempts to discover knowledge that perhaps is not meant to be discovered. Through his research, he discovers how to defy nature and give life to an inanimate object. But by doing this he is pushing nature's boundaries, ones that should not be pushed. So by relating Victor to Prometheus, it is evident that he, too, will be punished for his desire for superiority.

 Prometheus stealing fire from the gods **Caspar David Friedrich - Romantic Art** (Sarah Drumm) Caspar David Friedrich was a landscape painter during the 19th nineteenth century German Romantic movement. He is best known for his landscapes,featuring gothic ruins and darkened figures, who are fascinated by the beauty of nature. One of Friedrich's paintings, titled "Sea of Ice," is featured on the cover of the Norton Edition of //Frankenstein//.