Name : Hariyani Kishan
R.
Semester: 2
Paper No: 5 Romantic
Literature
Roll no: 21
Enrollment no:
PG15101021
Email ID: kishanhariyani1992@gmail.com
Submitted
To: Department of English
Maharaja
KrishnaKumarsinhji Bhavnagar University.
Year: 2016
MYTHOLOGICAL
APPROACH IN ‘FRANKENSTEIN’
Ø Introduction
Marry Shelley was one of the most shining stars of the Romantic Age. Her full
name was Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin. Mary Shelley was born in Somers Town,
London, England, on the 30th of August 1797. When Mary Shelley was four years
old, her father married Mary Jane Clairmont, their neighbor, who had already
two children of her own. His new wife was disliked by most of Godwin's friends
and she and Mary did not get along. She was the daughter of William Godwin, a
journalist, philosopher and novelist, and Mary Wollstonecraft, educator and
feminist philosopher which was to die only 11 days after her birth, from
puerperal fever. She and her four years older half-sister Fanny Imlay were
raised and educated by her father who encouraged them to write from early age.
Mary Godwin's mother died when she was eleven days old; afterwards, she and her
older half-sister, fanny Imlay, were raised by her father.
Mary
Shelley's most famous novel, Frankenstein: or the Modern Prometheus, was
released anonymously when she was only 21 years old
The novel had at the
center of its plot a failed attempt at artificial life, by the scientist
Frankenstein, which produced a monster. The work is considered to be a mixture
of science fiction, gothic novel, and having elements from the Romantic
Movement.
Ø What is Myth?
Myth is the word, which
came to existence in the 19th century. Because earlier it was known
as Mythos. It is a Greek word. Myth means story or word.
Myth can be defined as
;“A traditional story, especially one
concerning the early history Of a people or explaining a natural or social
phenomenon, and
Typically
involving supernatural beings or events”
Now let’s have a
discuss on the definition of Mythology.
“A
set of stories or beliefs about a particular person, institution,
Or
situation, especially when exaggerated or fictitious”
Myth critics concerned to find out
those mysterious elements that inform certain literary works and that elicit,
with almost uncanny force, dramatic & universal human reactions. Study of
myth reveals about the mind and character of people. Myths are symbolic
projections of people’s hopes, values, fears and aspirations. There are many
misconceptions about myth in reality myth reflects more profound reality.
Traditional
story of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the
worldview of a people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon.
Myths relate the events, conditions, and deeds of gods or superhuman beings
that are outside ordinary human life and yet basic to it. These events are set
in a time altogether different from historical time, often at the beginning of
creation or at an early stage of prehistory. A culture's myths are usually
closely related to its religious beliefs and rituals. The modern study of myth
arose with early 19th-century.
Ø Myth of Prometheus
Here
in this novel like Doctor Frankenstein is a flawed character, neither good, nor
evil but certainly blind by his selfish ambition to equal god. Dr. Frankenstein
is the archetype of the classical mad scientist but also the embodiment of our
scientific age.
Here,
to be the part of the tragedy Shelley describes is how Frankenstein spends much
of his time running away from his monster. Instead of trying to help or destroy
his creature, he keeps away, to his responsibilities, so does science today
which quest to unveil nature’s secret one after one leads to disaster.
Genetically-modified organisms and clones are the modern.
Now,
the mythological approach can be observed in the Frankenstein as The original,
full title for the Mary Shelley novel is simply, as Frankenstein; or the
Modern Prometheus. The subtitle refers to ancient Greek mythology and is very
interesting. It thematically connects the novel to myths of mankind's creation
and fall, both the Greek and Judeo-Christian. The latter is evident in the
numerous allusions throughout the story to Milton's Paradise Lost - a
poetic retelling of the myths of Satan's fall from grace and Adam's and Eve's
expulsion from Eden. The allusive complexity of the novel draws a parallel
between Victor Frankenstein and the Titan, Prometheus; at the same time, Victor
is likened to God and his Creature is variously equated with the fallen Adam
and Satan.
Prometheus was also a myth told in Latin but was a very different story. In
this version Prometheus makes man from clay and water, again a very relevant
theme to Frankenstein, as Victor rebels against the laws of nature (how
life is naturally made) and as a result is punished by his creation.
Prometheus, a Greek Titan who sculpted man from clay and then stole the light
of fire from the gods to give to man, these acts can be attributed to the
enabling of civilization and the gift of knowledge man acquired from him. Zeus
punished Prometheus; bound to stone while an eagle each day would eat away
Prometheus's liver. Suffering this agonizing torment Prometheus would face his
punishment for eternity. “Prometheus became a figure who represented human
striving, particularly the quest for scientific knowledge, and the risk of
overreaching or unintended consequences. In particular, he was regarded in the
Romantic era as embodying the lone genius whose efforts to improve human
existence could also result in tragedy
Ø Myth of Narcissus
The myth of Narcissus in which the legend is there. A tale told by Roman poet
Ovid.Eacho, a young girl who falls in love with Narcissus. In Greek
mythology, the myth of Narcissus can be noticed. It tells that Narcissus was a
hunter from the territory of Thespiae in Boeotia who was
renowned for his beauty. He was the son of a river god
named Cephisus and a nymph named Lyriope. He was
exceptionally proud of what he did to those who loved
him. Nemesis noticed and attracted Narcissus to a pool, wherein he
saw his reflection and fell in love with it, not realizing it was merely an
image. Unable to leave the beauty of his reflection, Narcissus died. Narcissus
is the origin of the term narcissism, after this story this term came into
existence.
One
of the most known Greek Myths, due to its uniqueness and moral tale; Narcissus,
was the son of River God Cephisus and nymph Lyriope. He was known for his
beauty and he was loved by God Apollo due to his extraordinary physique. The
myth of Narcissus comes in two different versions, the Greek and the
Greco-Roman version, as both Conon the Greek and Ovid, the Roman poet, wrote
the story of Narcissus, enhancing it with different elements.
Mary Shelley has given another title to
this novel is "Modern Prometheus", but she could also have referred
to it as the Modern Narcissus. Victor presents, in fact, all the important
characteristics of the narcissistic personality disorder as defined in the myth
of Narcissus. Who has having sense of self-importance.
Ø Myth of Paradise Lost
The
story of Adam and Eve, Creation and the fall clearly refers to
Frankenstein's ambition as a scientist and his disobedience against God as the
supreme creator. There are also many references to Satan and his
defiance of his Creator which are relevant to an understanding of the monster's
behavior In both these cases, the references to the Bible stories are filtered
through the monster's reading of Milton's Paradise Lost. References to
Prometheus, who in Greek and Roman mythology is named as the creator of
humanity and who also defined the gods by teaching humans a number of important
crafts, show that Mary Shelley is not presenting her story in exclusively
Christian terms.
In
this novel the myth of paradise Lost can be noticed. Because, Victor is cast in
the role of the Judeo-Christian God as Creator, which places the Creature in
the role of Adam.
The
Creature, however,. He is a fallen, outcast Adam as a result of Victor's
transgression and the callousness of humankind. Tragedy does not befall the
main characters because Frankenstein tries to play God and, therefore, earns
His wrath and punishment, as some simplistically think. The tragedy results
from his failure to properly care for his creation by leaving it to the mercy
of a human race that fears what it does not understand and judges people by
superficial appearances. This leads to rejection and profound isolation for the
Creature and turns his basically noble nature into something vengeful. In his dark
and vengeful scenes, the Creature is re-cast in the role of Milton's Satan, who
rails against the God who rejected him and plots to ravange himself upon that God. It will be helpful,
here, to examine some specific examples of the numerous references to Milton's
masterwork that can be found in Shelley's great gothic novel.
Ø Conclusion
In
short this novel presented mixture of various Mythological approaches and
glimpse of scientific fiction Frankenstein a very rich experience for the
reader, and its reputation as one of the greatest novels of the
19th century. So; at last I want to say that many myths are indicated in
the novel, which makes this novel unique one. Therefore one can see this novel
from the mythological perspective.
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