Frankenstein (6 points)

These blogs will be organised in sections of my thoughts. Basically, topics that I want to talk about and are meaningful to me. This helps me make sure I hit every point equally, and that I actually get to them.

Etymology of Prometheus

Prometheus is a well known mythological character, the giver of Fire to man. But have you heard of his brother Epimetheus? While he is not as important in the myths, their names are related. Prometheus translates to "before thought" meaning the capability of foresight, thinking before doing. Epimetheus translates to "after thought", so only learning after you have done something. I believe this has almost a ironic relation to "The Modern Prometheus". Though Dr. Frankenstein is meant to represent Prometheus (taking power, ei. life/fire, from the gods) he does not follow Prometheus' meaning. Victor instead only realises the error he has made after the monster is brought to life. This idea is also portrayed in the well known movie Jurassic Park in the quote "[you] were so preoccupied with whether or not you could, they didn't stop to think if they should." 

Modern Representation

The themes and ideas of Frankenstein have been widely adapted by almost every genre. Recently, what I found to relate most to Mary Shelly's original ideas is the TV series Black Mirror. If fire is to Prometheus what lightning was to Dr. Frankenstein then so technology is to modern man. Each of those (fire/lightning) are still technology of themselves for the time they were harnessed, but modern technology is so complicated it is hard to summarise in one term. Black Mirror shows a variety of ways technology can go awry in the near future. Each is a different invention that most people would think as a miracle of science, however every invention is shown taking a dark twist. Just as Dr. Frankenstein wishes most that he never created the monster, each of Black Mirror's inventions will make you wish the same.

Emotional Reversal

When discussing how you interpret something, you occasionally come up with ideas that are a bit off the wall. But while watching one of the Gothic Literature videos, I had a thought. Mary Shelly was of course devastated by her continuous still births. The emotional impact would have been dramatic and scaring, as well as knowing her mother died from complications giving birth to her. Now hear me out, Dr. Frankenstein was utterly repulsed and ashamed of what he created. Did Mary ever think of what it would be like if she (or someone else) had the ability to bring a lost child back to life? Would it be different, since the monster Dr. Frankenstein made had no emotional connection to him at all? What if Victor brought back a child of his instead, would he be repulsed all the same? Victor lacked forethought, but he also lacked morality. Mary Shelly's Frankenstein (and its impact) would have been entirely different if Victor had embraced the creature instead.