¶ … Greek legend of Prometheus, the god that defied Zeus and brought fire to humans, is one that figures largely in the imagery of the later Romantic poets. There's Byron's Prometheus, Percy Shelley's Prometheus Unbound, and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. For Percy Shelley and Lord Byron, Prometheus embodied the revolutionary, creative, and daringly original spirit, and a "courage and majesty and firm and patient opposition to omnipotent force" (Prometheus Unbound, Norton Anthology 734). Prometheus was the "champion of humanity" persecuted for his selfless desire to bring good to the world. Considering both men's hate for tyranny and zeal for social justice such a reading is not surprising.
However, Paul Cantor points out in Creature and Creator that, "the Romantics made a hero out of Prometheus by glossing over those aspects of the original legends which cast him in a bad light"(77). Mary Shelley's use of the Promethean legend, however, is far different, and it is her understanding of this complex and ambiguous mythology that is one focus of this essay. It is my contention that her reading of Prometheus is, in fact, most accurate to the true meaning of the legend, and constitutes a critique of the excessive individualism championed by the Romantic Movement, especially her father William Godwin and, to a lesser extent, her husband Percy Shelley. In one variation of the Greek myth, Zeus says in response to Prometheus's pleading on behalf of humanity, "More interesting perhaps, but infinitely more dangerous. For there is this in man too: a vaunting pride that needs little sustenance to make it swell to giant size"(Greek Legends 58).
It is obvious, as most critics have pointed out, that the subtitle of "The Modern Prometheus" refers to Victor. He desires to be "the benefactor of mankind...[and] steals, as it were, the spark of life from heaven"(Creature and Creator, 103). In his act of creation Victor is compelled by the idea that "the labours of men of genius, however erroneously directed, scarcely ever fail in ultimately...
There were many other gods and goddesses and other supernatural beings in both mythologies (Meeks 2002). There were godlings, demigods, river nymphs and tree dryads and other mythical creatures, such as satyrs, comprising the entire belief systems. These systems were polytheistic as well as animistic. The system held that every tree, river and every part of nature had a spirit or energy behind it. Hercules was a famous demigod (Meeks).
The figure of Zeus in the form of a human being also played a great role in Greek art. The Greek sculptor Lysippos was widely known and admired for his monumental statues of Zeus. Perhaps this is why he was asked to create a full-size portrait of Alexander the Great now known as the Scraper, a Roman copy after the original bronze statue made around 330 B.C.E. According to legend, Lysippos
Civilization Liberalism introduced a very appealing idealistic perspective of the world, wishing for universal freedom and equality. Historical events, such as the French revolution or the industrial revolution seemed to change the world in this exact direction, but the truth is that liberalism failed to keep its promise regarding progress. Society did undergo fundamental changes. Absolutist regimes were brought down. The industrial advancements allowed for the creation of a new social order
Promethean myth holds a very strong hold upon the literature of the romantic era, a collected era of the rekindling of the ideas and ideals of classical antiquity. Though within each evolving age there is the incorporation of propriety and modernity into the stories and ideal of the old. Though not alone, in their fascination with creation and even the promethean myth, as the forbearers of the Romantics had a
This is a clear and explicit statement of the gods' selfishness, and in the context of the story of Zeus' in particular. There is no other reason provided for his desire to keep fire away from humanity; it is not out of a prudent and paternal fear of fire's destructive powers, nor because of something divine in the very essence of fire that is not to be sullied by
Your answer should be at least five sentences long. The Legend of Arthur Lesson 1 Journal Entry # 9 of 16 Journal Exercise 1.7A: Honor and Loyalty 1. Consider how Arthur's actions and personality agree with or challenge your definition of honor. Write a few sentences comparing your definition (from Journal 1.6A) with Arthur's actions and personality. 2. Write a brief paragraph explaining the importance or unimportance of loyalty in being honorable. Lesson 1 Journal
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