Frankenstein: Allusions & Cultural References
Literature, Philosophy, Mythology & Historical Figures
- Epigraph
- Title
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Prometheus
- head vs heart
- Prometheus created an alliance with humans - he gave fire to humans; made the gods unhappy
- Chained to a rock, every day an easgle tore out his liver, and every night it grew back.
- He was immortal, could not die, and suffered endlessly
- Allusion? Both suffer from playing god
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Allusions to failed father & son relationships
- Adam & God
- Cain & God
- Hercules & Zeus
- King Arthur & his son
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Hercules was part god (son of Zeus) and part mortal. Zeus allows his wife, Hera, who is not Hercules' mother, punish Hercules by making him perform 12 Labors. Hercules' strength and courage are admired, but his anger scares people.
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Geoffrey introduces the figure of Mordred to the world beyond Wales. King Arthur leaves Mordred in charge of his throne as he crossed the English Channel to wage war on Emperor Lucius of Rome. During King Arthur's absence Mordred crowns himself king and marries Guinevere, forcing Arthur to return to Britain.
Frankenstein: Allusions & Cultural References
Literature, Philosophy, Mythology
- John Milton: Paradise Lost
- Plutarch: Lives
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Sorrows of Werther
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge: Rime of the Ancient Mariner
- Dante
- The myth of Prometheus
- Constantin-Francois Volney: Ruins of Empires
Frankenstein: Allusions & Cultural References
Historical Figures
Dr. Erasmus Darwin (Charles’ grandfather): Darwin = electricity + muscles
Cornelius Agrippa: Agrippa = magic + occult + unlicensed doctor
Paracelsus: Paracelsus = physician + alchemist (mercury x opium)
Albertus Magnus: Magnus = science + religion = peaceful coexistence