1. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein tells the story of one man's desire to control life itself. Victor Frankenstein's main goal is his own glory and power. He desires, like Prometheus before him, to take what is reserved for the gods and make it useful to men. Victor is unable to control this new found power and ultimately destroys it. Shelley tells this story of knowledge and science by introducing Victor's romantic temperament and the Gothic themes of the creature's creation and the horrors it unleashes. Since Shelley subtitled Frankenstein "The Modern Prometheus", the Greek titan's relationship with Victor Frankenstein is prominent. Prometheus stole fire from the gods of Mount Olympus to give it to people. For this theft he was punished by Zeus with the constraint of never dying, despite suffering homicidal torture every day. Likewise, Victor stole a power reserved for the gods, the power to give life. However, while Prometheus' actions are likely altruistic, Victor's actions are selfish. Victor is only interested in his own power and glory. Victor, having studied alchemy and having recently been introduced to modern science, perceives it as giving life to dead flesh. This new man will be strong, disease-free, handsome, and perhaps immortal. In attempting to create this new life Victor goes against the fundamental laws of nature that life cannot be created from the absence of life. Victor does not believe that this law is unbreakable and in managing to create life he seems to be right. After creating a new life, Victor looks back at his creation. However, usurping God's power does not create a god. Victor is unable to feel compassion for his newly created creation as he sees him as horribly ugly. Victor rejects the creature twice, unable to look at the monstrosity he has created and ultimately flees. Victor believes the creature is gone forever, but when he discovers the creature's existence it will haunt him until his death. Victor, like Prometheus, is punished for attempting to gain the power of the gods. Victor's punishment is the destruction of his family. For the creature takes the life first of his brother and finally of his wife. Only in the world does Victor die before he can kill his monstrous creation.