Allusions in Frankenstein

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein contains many allusions to other well-known stories.  These allusions help to enhance the story and to add to its overall effect on the reader through their connections to other works.  One allusion in this story is that of God’s creation of Adam and Eve in the Bible.  In Frankenstein, the creature wants to be treated in the same way that Adam was when he was first created by God.  Frankenstein, however, is disgusted by his creation and wants nothing to do with him.  The creature says “Oh Frankenstein, be not equitable to every other and trample upon me alone, to whom thy justice, and even thy clemency and affection, is most due. Remember that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel (121-122).”  After Adam’s creation, God was kind to him and made him happy and comfortable, but Frankenstein has no such wish for his creation. The creature pleads to Frankenstein that “…no Eve soothed my sorrows nor shared my thoughts; I was alone.  I remembered Adam's supplication to his Creator.  But where was mine?" (159-160).   The creature wishes for his creator to give him a female companion just as Adam did in the Bible.

 The story of Frankenstein also alludes to the Greek myth of Prometheus.  Frankenstein was interested by the secret of life while Prometheus was intrigued by fire.  Both were fascinated by something that they should never have known.  In the end, both Frankenstein and Prometheus were tormented.  The creature vowed revenge on Frankenstein and killed everyone that he loved while Prometheus had to endure eternal torment through an eagle eating his liver after it grew back each night.