Frankenstein: the creation of a myth

Abstract

The present work proposes a study of Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' in relation to John Milton's 'Paradise Lost' and the myth of Prometheus, and aims to discuss their contribution to the establishment of Frankenstein as a myth on its own right. In her novel, Mary Shelley alludes to John Milton's 'Paradise Lost''s themes and characters while depicting a world without gods or any other divine being. Her two main characters, namely, Victor and the creature, assume different Miltonic archetypes throughout the novel. In addition, Shelley provides another way to understand the relationship between creator and creature, one that is not as harmonious as the one told in the myth of Prometheus. While re-interpreting these creation myths, Mary Shelley ends up creating the story of a scientist and his uncontrolled creature, a story that has been part of the popular culture and has become as famous as its mythological ancestries.