Frankenstein Q&A

One of the major themes explored in the book is that of destructive knowledge. In the novel, Victor is a talented scholar who can apply science to create life, which can be regarded as the pinnacle of even modern science. However, the progress described in the book doesn't quite have any positive effects, in fact, the scientist unleashes a terrible monster upon the world who then destroys Victor's life by killing all his loved ones. The novel perhaps advocates that knowledge is not necessarily always good and if it is applied erroneously it can indeed have terrible consequences.

Prometheus is a figure of Greek mythology, he was a Titan who was said to have created man from clay and bestowed on man the gift of fire after Zeus had taken it away. Prometheus was sentenced to an eternity of pain by the gods for the act of stealing. In this way, Frankenstein can indeed be seen as the modern retelling of the Prometheus mythology. Frankenstein usurped the power of God by bestowing life on a creature, in consequence, he was punished with a life of misery and tragedy.