mbition is similar to that of the scientists of today who engage in the race for who can clone humans faster, or travel to outer space. There is no helpful reason for such things to be accomplished, other than to have the "bragging rights" over another country. This ambition of Frankenstein's to be the forerunner in the area of the scientific processes of life caused him to not think of the consequences of his actions, and to only think of himself. Frankenstein embodies what Shelley obviously perceives as being "modern." Along with simply wanting to be the first scientist to master such a feat, Frankenstein is determined to make his creation one of gargantuan proportions. He would not be satisfied by merely giving life to his creation, he had to make the monster larger than any natural being, a being of "gigantic stature" (Shelley, p. 73). In the Promethean myth, Prometheus gives man the ability to walk upright so that they would be closer to the heavens and the Gods (Norton, p. 312), whereas Frankenstein simply makes his creation massive, so that he may be all the more impressive.Although Frankenstein's creation was enormous, it wasn't merely its sheer size that made him so impressive an invention. Frankenstein created his "monster," giving him the ability to learn, think, and feel. This is similar to Prometheus and the "forbidden fire" he steals from the Gods to give to man. Even though both Frankenstein and Prometheus give their creations "forbidden fire," or knowledge, it is their reasons for doing so that once again help discriminate between Prometheus and his "modern" counterpart, Frankenstein. Prometheus stole the fire from the Gods because he felt that mankind needed the knowledge to survive, especially since his brother, Epimetheus, had not left any attributes to give to man. Similarly, Frankenstein "steals" the knowledge that he gives his creation, playing the role of God by giving the monster knowledge that he wasn...
