What title did Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley give to the subtitle of her 1818 novel 'Frankenstein', explicitly drawing a parallel with Greek mythology?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. The Modern Prometheus
- Step 1: In Greek mythology, the Titan Prometheus defied Zeus by stealing fire from Mount Olympus and molding humanity from clay, for which he was chained to a rock.
- Step 2: Mary Shelley subtitled her novel 'The Modern Prometheus' to emphasize Victor Frankenstein's hubristic attempt to bestow the spark of life upon lifeless clay, incurring tragic retribution.
Answer
The Modern Prometheus
Why not the others: 'The Modern Icarus' Icarus flew too close to the sun with wax wings; Prometheus is the Titan who stole fire from the gods to bestow upon humanity; 'The Modern Faust' Faust made a pact with the devil for forbidden worldly knowledge, whereas Prometheus is a classical Titan benefactor of mankind; 'The Modern Daedalus' Daedalus was the master Athenian craftsman who constructed the Cretan labyrinth, not the subtitle of Shelley's work.
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