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Description
Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, had the subtitle "The Modern Prometheus" in the 1818 edition of the novel. The novel focuses on what happens when one does not think ahead and respect their creation. As Hustis says, "…Shelley reconfigures the…Prometheus myth…to foreground the issue of responsible creativity (Hustis 3)." One must always be aware of what one is doing. Prometheus gave man fire with pity for mankind, while Victor went to create the Creature without thinking of the feelings of his creation.
What most people know about Prometheus is that he gave man fire and, for that, he was punished by being hung on a cliff. While on the cliff, his insides were eaten each day by an eagle and restored each night. It was a cycle of endless pain. What most don't realize is that Prometheus was also the creator of the human race.

Prometheus
As for long suffering men, [Zeus] took no care at all;
indeed his plan was to make the whole of their race
extinct and then to form another race instead. (Aeschylus 12)

Prometheus cared deeply for his creation and respected them. He did not like the fact that Zeus planned to destroy humanity and create a "perfect" race. Prometheus could see man as deserving respect and being of a higher order than the animals. "Thus it was Prometheus who made human existence human…" (Kerenyi 89) by giving them fire. Prometheus did not see caring for man as an abstract idea, but as a concrete one. Yet, he did not love them so much as a close friend that one goes to visit, he was still above them but cared about them.
Prometheus was well aware of what he had gotten himself into and held on while in pain.

Prometheus
Nor shall I ever shrink from [Zeus'] terrible
threats and reveal it,
till he has loosed me from these cruel chains,
and is willing to pay
recompense for my shame. (Aeschylus 10)

This shows a much greater dedication than Victor shows. Victor could have dedication but when push comes to shove, he falls back and stumbles. Prometheus had to endure his torment of an eagle eating his guts for three thousand years. Though he complained, he still held on even though he was hated by nearly everyone. The gods and goddesses knew what had happened, but they did not dare go against Zeus. They did not help Prometheus because they were fearful of Zeus' wrath. So he was, in effect, in his punishment all alone.
Prometheus was a trickster, among other things. He even tricked Zeus which made Zeus very mad against him and mankind. Zeus "…would not give the power of unwearyingly fire to the wretched race of mortal men who lie on the earth" (Kerenyi 41-42). To think of tricking Zeus without fear is a little egotistic. This trick he played was about sacrifices and not about the good of mankind. Though Prometheus moaned while he was on the cliff he was not all good, as one might suppose. His ego is shown here:

Prometheus
Now what is this I see? It is you who have come
to look upon my pain? How did you find the heart
to leave the stream you name, the self-made vaulted caves
of rock, and to come to the earth, the mother of iron? (Aeschylus 15)

Prometheus is angry, as can be expected, and seems to think of every god as Zeus. Also, he thinks that he does not have to fear anyone else because he is already punished. He has an ego like Frankenstein, but it is a refined ego.
Prometheus did not know his fate:

Prometheus
When I felt pity first for mortals I thought not
that I would be the sufferer… (Aeschylus 12)

Even though he did not expect to suffer for man, he did not shy away from his task. These lines show that he did not know what would happen. Prometheus does call himself "a sight of shame for Zeus" (Aeschylus 12). This shows that he is indeed proud of his suffering. Even though he undergoes three thousands years of torture, he is ready.
While Prometheus' giving man fire was done out of pity, Frankenstein's creation of a creature was done out of no such feeling. He thinks "…of 'life' only as an abstraction…" (Hustis 5) Frankenstein interests lay on how life is created and not of all the intricacies that it entails. He has been to school, was successful there, but his wants of the greater glory make him move away. For years, his work on the Creature continued, but when he first views the Creature's birth he realizes that he has gotten over his head.
There was such obsession that the creation of the Creature "…swallowed up every habit of [Frankenstein's] nature…" (M Shelley 59). It was an obsession that was rewarded with "How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe…" (M Shelley 60). When Frankenstein realizes what he really has done he is scared. His view on life was that of a scientific detachment. One can view scientific achievements, and even become a member of the vast field, while still retaining one's humanity. Frankenstein was putting the Creature together as one might write a story. The correct way would be to be aware of how everything is going to affect the final story, going into detail to make sure everything fits. What Frankenstein did with the Creature can be compared to writing a story while only focusing on the major details, it may seem fine as you are writing it but the final result will be something you did not intend. The fear Frankenstein feels at this realization is what life really is and that it is something one must think about. After this initial fear is the hatred of what was his own fault.
While Frankenstein prides himself as a scientist, the notion that if he leaves the Creature alone that the Creature will go away is naïve and not fitting of one of his status. He writes, "…I could not endure to think of…the occurrences of the preceding night" (M Shelley 63). He reacts like a little child who just got hurt. Frankenstein does not just have naïveté but a lack of will. While Prometheus could endure torture, Frankenstein could not face his mistakes. Frankenstein could not admit that he was wrong and that what he did could still be corrected. His hubris made his fear rule him.
Frankenstein said that his life was so good that it was like "[he] was…guided by a silken cord…" (M Shelley 42) Yet that upbringing did not stop him from creating the Creature. "My abhorrence of this fiend cannot be conceived" (M Shelley 87). Frankenstein says, showing that he is not totally admitting that he was wrong. What is most often seen is Frankenstein's hate of the Creature. This is not saying that Frankenstein does not realize he is wrong but that his pride is so great that he puts all his wrongs onto the Creature. Frankenstein says, at one point, "Human beings…would indeed be degraded if such a wretch as I felt pride" (M Shelley 159). Though he says he does not feel pride it is shown that pride is a big part of him. The pride of creating a new race makes him create the Creature. This pride is fueled by the thought of a race worshiping him and being highly respected.
While Frankenstein did make mistakes, he never thought it could go wrong just as Prometheus never thought he would suffer. Frankenstein said he "beheld only the result" (M Shelley 57) but it is shown that Frankenstein was not looking at the actual result when he was creating the Creature. Frankenstein's thoughts were too full of the "desire of the wisest men since the creation of the world…now within [his] grasp" (M Shelley 57). With this desire in his mind, he did not realize that just because the parts were perfect that the whole thing would disgust him. His mind was too busy of having finally figured out the secret of life to think anything could go wrong.
Prometheus found humanity "helpless at first" (Aeschylus 20) just as the Creature has "considerable difficulty" (M Shelley 95) remembering his beginnings. Both were helpless when they first came into being. Humanity had Prometheus to direct and guide them; the Creature had to learn on its own. Humanity and the Creature can become great only once they have knowledge of the world. The difference comes into being when Prometheus is greater than humanity while the hierarchy between the Creature and Frankenstein is not so clear cut.
Humanity's view of wanting respect is not like that of the Creature's. While the Creature says that he will be peaceful to Frankenstein if Frankenstein "…wilt also perform thy part…" (M Shelley 93), the Creature feels that Frankenstein owes him something. This is probably due to the fact that the Creature has no other friends. The Creature says, "Satan had his companions…but I am solitary and abhorred (M Shelley 117)." And the Creature should have a friend and not be alone. God made Eve to be a companion to Adam, so the Creature should have a companion. That is a reasonable request.
The Creature pleads to Frankenstein like one would pray to a god by saying, "Oh! my creator, make me happy; let me feel gratitude towards you for one benefit!" (M Shelley 129). Like praying to a god, the Creature believes in Frankenstein as a way to salvation. The Creature just wants Frankenstein's blessing so he will know love and can live in peace. The Creature says that he would "…bestow every benefit upon [man] with tears of gratitude at his acceptance (M Shelley 129)." Frankenstein is then, in a sense, the way to salvation for the Creature. Unfortunately, Frankenstein's anger at his own mistakes makes him blind to what the Creature is asking.
When Frankenstein destroys the Creature's mate the Creature says, "…I can make you so wretched that the light of day will be hateful to you" (M Shelley 146). This disrespect of those in a higher position is also shown in Prometheus when he says, "As for me, Zeus matters to me less than nothing" (Aeschylus 39). Both the Creature and Prometheus believe fully in their cause. The Creature's cause is to kill since he can find no friend while Prometheus' cause is to bring man up out of the darkness. The Creature's cause may be right in his own mind, but has terrible consequences. He is like a little kid hitting a bully in a playground. This playground, though, is much more real than a school playground.
The Creature thinks very highly of himself for he acts superior to Frankenstein by saying, "I must not be trifled with: and I demand an answer" (M Shelley 130). The Creature acts like a master to Frankenstein by saying, "Slave, I have reasoned with you, but you have proved yourself unworthy of my condescension" (M Shelley 146). The Creature does not think highly of Walton as is shown by him saying, "You, who call Frankenstein your friend…" (M Shelley 188). The Creature feels that he is due something since he has suffered so much. Since he lives such a horrible life, and has never been physically hurt, he feels superior to man. The Creature's ego, in a sense, can be seen as a way of dealing with the world. It is not his fault that bad things happen, it is because of other people. He can commit no wrong; it is only those who despise him who can. In this way the Creature, Frankenstein, and Prometheus are all connected.
Creation is such an amazing event to consider. First there was nothing and then there was something. The Greeks say that Prometheus created mankind and suffered so they could rise out of the darkness. The Christians say that God created man in his own image and his own son died for our sins. Frankenstein, however, did not care for his creation. He did not create his own creation out of love, nor was he willing to suffer for it. The Creature was too ugly for Frankenstein to even think of loving him. The Creature was so ugly to Frankenstein that "…disgust filled [his] heart" (M Shelley 61).
While Frankenstein created the Creature he decided "…to procrastinate all that related to [his] feelings of affection until the great object…should be completed" (M Shelley 59). With feelings of affection gone Frankenstein could not think of how the Creature would feel. To Frankenstein the Creature was an experiment, nothing more. Anything that thinks should be treated as a human, not as an experiment. There are rules so that experimentations do not harm people and Frankenstein should have had enough respect to understand that. Frankenstein, though, does not value life or understand why one should not try to defy death.
Frankenstein's reason can be summed up in this sentence: "Wealth was an inferior object; but what glory would attend the discovery, if I could banish disease from the human frame, and render man invulnerable to any but a violent death!" (M Shelley 47).
Although the view on wealth as an "inferior object" (M Shelley 47) seems like a good thing, the "glory" to be found in playing with death is just abominable. He likes science and worships it nearly like a religion. It is good to be dedicated to a field but, "If the study….has a tendency to weaken your affections…then that study is…not befitting the human mind" (M Shelley 59). That escapes Frankenstein's grasp while he is creating the creature. He is only looking at the "glory" and not thinking about the human side of him, just of increasing his fame by making a major discover for science.
Frankenstein did have empathy for the Creature, "…but when [Frankenstein] looked upon [the Creature]… [his] heart sickened…" (M Shelley 130). It is such a short lived emotion for Frankenstein that it does not really exist. He did not think of the Creature as sentient, deserving respect, before and he does not change his opinion now. The thing with feeling for someone/something is that you need to be open to the feelings. Frankenstein is closed to those feelings and so does not even have a hope at them.
Prometheus thought "…what seemed the best was to…take my stand together with Zeus" (Aeschylus 11). Later, though, he grows to hate Zeus. Prometheus then thinks, "[Zeus] is free to act and free to reign for this short time…" (Aeschylus 39). Prometheus is totally confident that Zeus will fall from power without Prometheus' help. Prometheus develops extreme hatred for Zeus and so feels that his punishment is fine since Zeus will suffer in the end.
Prometheus has endured "Three thousand years of sleep-unsheltered hours…" (P Shelley 55) for his creation while Frankenstein does not even suffer one day to help the Creature. Prometheus has a sense of justice that is very outspoken. Not only did he create humanity but stood extreme torture so man could come out of the dark ages. When one cares for a cause one will undertake anything to see it through to the end. Prometheus sets out for a goal of suffering for humanity, though he is also doing it to spite Zeus.
Not only did Prometheus suffer for his creation but he taught humanity how to live. He describes how man is at first dumb and living in the dark until he comes to teach them how to live. It should not have been the De Laceys that taught the Creature how to speak, but Frankenstein himself. Prometheus understood the importance of educating people and helping them evolve. He knew that you cannot just leave a project after you have started it. From creating humanity, to bringing man out of the darkness, and suffering for humanity Prometheus held strong.
Prometheus and Frankenstein both play the parts of creators. Where they differ is in how they act after creation. Frankenstein wants glory and so backs quickly away when the Creature is different from what he had expected. Prometheus pities man and so helps him, suffering extreme torture for the good of man. Frankenstein is, indeed, a Prometheus in that he is a creator and that he suffers.

Works Cited
Aeschylus. "Prometheus Bound." Trans. Rex Warner. Prometheus Bound & Prometheus Unbound. New York: The Heritage Press, 1966. 3-45.

Hustis, Harriet. "Responsible creativity and the 'modernity' of Mary Shelley's Prometheus." Studies in English Literature v43. i42003 845(15). 16 Apr 2007 <galenet.galegroup.com.ezproxy.… >.

Kerenyi, C. Prometheus: Archetypal Image of Human Existence. Trans. Ralph Manheim. New York: Pantheon Books, 1963.

Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. 2nd. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2000.

Shelley, Percy Bysshe. "Prometheus Unbound." Trans. Rex Warner. Prometheus Bound & Prometheus Unbound. New York: The Heritage Press, 1966. 55-154

Description
Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, had the subtitle "The Modern Prometheus" in the 1818 edition of the novel. The novel focuses on what happens when one does not think ahead and respect their creation. As Hustis says, "…Shelley reconfigures the…Prometheus myth…to foreground the issue of responsible creativity (Hustis 3)." One must always be aware of what one is doing. Prometheus gave man fire with pity for mankind, while Victor went to create the Creature without thinking of the feelings of his creation.
What most people know about Prometheus is that he gave man fire and, for that, he was punished by being hung on a cliff. While on the cliff, his insides were eaten each day by an eagle and restored each night. It was a cycle of endless pain. What most don't realize is that Prometheus was also the creator of the human race.

Prometheus
As for long suffering men, [Zeus] took no care at all;
indeed his plan was to make the whole of their race
extinct and then to form another race instead. (Aeschylus 12)

Prometheus cared deeply for his creation and respected them. He did not like the fact that Zeus planned to destroy humanity and create a "perfect" race. Prometheus could see man as deserving respect and being of a higher order than the animals. "Thus it was Prometheus who made human existence human…" (Kerenyi 89) by giving them fire. Prometheus did not see caring for man as an abstract idea, but as a concrete one. Yet, he did not love them so much as a close friend that one goes to visit, he was still above them but cared about them.
Prometheus was well aware of what he had gotten himself into and held on while in pain.

Prometheus
Nor shall I ever shrink from [Zeus'] terrible
threats and reveal it,
till he has loosed me from these cruel chains,
and is willing to pay
recompense for my shame. (Aeschylus 10)

This shows a much greater dedication than Victor shows. Victor could have dedication but when push comes to shove, he falls back and stumbles. Prometheus had to endure his torment of an eagle eating his guts for three thousand years. Though he complained, he still held on even though he was hated by nearly everyone. The gods and goddesses knew what had happened, but they did not dare go against Zeus. They did not help Prometheus because they were fearful of Zeus' wrath. So he was, in effect, in his punishment all alone.
Prometheus was a trickster, among other things. He even tricked Zeus which made Zeus very mad against him and mankind. Zeus "…would not give the power of unwearyingly fire to the wretched race of mortal men who lie on the earth" (Kerenyi 41-42). To think of tricking Zeus without fear is a little egotistic. This trick he played was about sacrifices and not about the good of mankind. Though Prometheus moaned while he was on the cliff he was not all good, as one might suppose. His ego is shown here:

Prometheus
Now what is this I see? It is you who have come
to look upon my pain? How did you find the heart
to leave the stream you name, the self-made vaulted caves
of rock, and to come to the earth, the mother of iron? (Aeschylus 15)

Prometheus is angry, as can be expected, and seems to think of every god as Zeus. Also, he thinks that he does not have to fear anyone else because he is already punished. He has an ego like Frankenstein, but it is a refined ego.
Prometheus did not know his fate:

Prometheus
When I felt pity first for mortals I thought not
that I would be the sufferer… (Aeschylus 12)

Even though he did not expect to suffer for man, he did not shy away from his task. These lines show that he did not know what would happen. Prometheus does call himself "a sight of shame for Zeus" (Aeschylus 12). This shows that he is indeed proud of his suffering. Even though he undergoes three thousands years of torture, he is ready.
While Prometheus' giving man fire was done out of pity, Frankenstein's creation of a creature was done out of no such feeling. He thinks "…of 'life' only as an abstraction…" (Hustis 5) Frankenstein interests lay on how life is created and not of all the intricacies that it entails. He has been to school, was successful there, but his wants of the greater glory make him move away. For years, his work on the Creature continued, but when he first views the Creature's birth he realizes that he has gotten over his head.
There was such obsession that the creation of the Creature "…swallowed up every habit of [Frankenstein's] nature…" (M Shelley 59). It was an obsession that was rewarded with "How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe…" (M Shelley 60). When Frankenstein realizes what he really has done he is scared. His view on life was that of a scientific detachment. One can view scientific achievements, and even become a member of the vast field, while still retaining one's humanity. Frankenstein was putting the Creature together as one might write a story. The correct way would be to be aware of how everything is going to affect the final story, going into detail to make sure everything fits. What Frankenstein did with the Creature can be compared to writing a story while only focusing on the major details, it may seem fine as you are writing it but the final result will be something you did not intend. The fear Frankenstein feels at this realization is what life really is and that it is something one must think about. After this initial fear is the hatred of what was his own fault.
While Frankenstein prides himself as a scientist, the notion that if he leaves the Creature alone that the Creature will go away is naïve and not fitting of one of his status. He writes, "…I could not endure to think of…the occurrences of the preceding night" (M Shelley 63). He reacts like a little child who just got hurt. Frankenstein does not just have naïveté but a lack of will. While Prometheus could endure torture, Frankenstein could not face his mistakes. Frankenstein could not admit that he was wrong and that what he did could still be corrected. His hubris made his fear rule him.
Frankenstein said that his life was so good that it was like "[he] was…guided by a silken cord…" (M Shelley 42) Yet that upbringing did not stop him from creating the Creature. "My abhorrence of this fiend cannot be conceived" (M Shelley 87). Frankenstein says, showing that he is not totally admitting that he was wrong. What is most often seen is Frankenstein's hate of the Creature. This is not saying that Frankenstein does not realize he is wrong but that his pride is so great that he puts all his wrongs onto the Creature. Frankenstein says, at one point, "Human beings…would indeed be degraded if such a wretch as I felt pride" (M Shelley 159). Though he says he does not feel pride it is shown that pride is a big part of him. The pride of creating a new race makes him create the Creature. This pride is fueled by the thought of a race worshiping him and being highly respected.
While Frankenstein did make mistakes, he never thought it could go wrong just as Prometheus never thought he would suffer. Frankenstein said he "beheld only the result" (M Shelley 57) but it is shown that Frankenstein was not looking at the actual result when he was creating the Creature. Frankenstein's thoughts were too full of the "desire of the wisest men since the creation of the world…now within [his] grasp" (M Shelley 57). With this desire in his mind, he did not realize that just because the parts were perfect that the whole thing would disgust him. His mind was too busy of having finally figured out the secret of life to think anything could go wrong.
Prometheus found humanity "helpless at first" (Aeschylus 20) just as the Creature has "considerable difficulty" (M Shelley 95) remembering his beginnings. Both were helpless when they first came into being. Humanity had Prometheus to direct and guide them; the Creature had to learn on its own. Humanity and the Creature can become great only once they have knowledge of the world. The difference comes into being when Prometheus is greater than humanity while the hierarchy between the Creature and Frankenstein is not so clear cut.
Humanity's view of wanting respect is not like that of the Creature's. While the Creature says that he will be peaceful to Frankenstein if Frankenstein "…wilt also perform thy part…" (M Shelley 93), the Creature feels that Frankenstein owes him something. This is probably due to the fact that the Creature has no other friends. The Creature says, "Satan had his companions…but I am solitary and abhorred (M Shelley 117)." And the Creature should have a friend and not be alone. God made Eve to be a companion to Adam, so the Creature should have a companion. That is a reasonable request.
The Creature pleads to Frankenstein like one would pray to a god by saying, "Oh! my creator, make me happy; let me feel gratitude towards you for one benefit!" (M Shelley 129). Like praying to a god, the Creature believes in Frankenstein as a way to salvation. The Creature just wants Frankenstein's blessing so he will know love and can live in peace. The Creature says that he would "…bestow every benefit upon [man] with tears of gratitude at his acceptance (M Shelley 129)." Frankenstein is then, in a sense, the way to salvation for the Creature. Unfortunately, Frankenstein's anger at his own mistakes makes him blind to what the Creature is asking.
When Frankenstein destroys the Creature's mate the Creature says, "…I can make you so wretched that the light of day will be hateful to you" (M Shelley 146). This disrespect of those in a higher position is also shown in Prometheus when he says, "As for me, Zeus matters to me less than nothing" (Aeschylus 39). Both the Creature and Prometheus believe fully in their cause. The Creature's cause is to kill since he can find no friend while Prometheus' cause is to bring man up out of the darkness. The Creature's cause may be right in his own mind, but has terrible consequences. He is like a little kid hitting a bully in a playground. This playground, though, is much more real than a school playground.
The Creature thinks very highly of himself for he acts superior to Frankenstein by saying, "I must not be trifled with: and I demand an answer" (M Shelley 130). The Creature acts like a master to Frankenstein by saying, "Slave, I have reasoned with you, but you have proved yourself unworthy of my condescension" (M Shelley 146). The Creature does not think highly of Walton as is shown by him saying, "You, who call Frankenstein your friend…" (M Shelley 188). The Creature feels that he is due something since he has suffered so much. Since he lives such a horrible life, and has never been physically hurt, he feels superior to man. The Creature's ego, in a sense, can be seen as a way of dealing with the world. It is not his fault that bad things happen, it is because of other people. He can commit no wrong; it is only those who despise him who can. In this way the Creature, Frankenstein, and Prometheus are all connected.
Creation is such an amazing event to consider. First there was nothing and then there was something. The Greeks say that Prometheus created mankind and suffered so they could rise out of the darkness. The Christians say that God created man in his own image and his own son died for our sins. Frankenstein, however, did not care for his creation. He did not create his own creation out of love, nor was he willing to suffer for it. The Creature was too ugly for Frankenstein to even think of loving him. The Creature was so ugly to Frankenstein that "…disgust filled [his] heart" (M Shelley 61).
While Frankenstein created the Creature he decided "…to procrastinate all that related to [his] feelings of affection until the great object…should be completed" (M Shelley 59). With feelings of affection gone Frankenstein could not think of how the Creature would feel. To Frankenstein the Creature was an experiment, nothing more. Anything that thinks should be treated as a human, not as an experiment. There are rules so that experimentations do not harm people and Frankenstein should have had enough respect to understand that. Frankenstein, though, does not value life or understand why one should not try to defy death.
Frankenstein's reason can be summed up in this sentence: "Wealth was an inferior object; but what glory would attend the discovery, if I could banish disease from the human frame, and render man invulnerable to any but a violent death!" (M Shelley 47).
Although the view on wealth as an "inferior object" (M Shelley 47) seems like a good thing, the "glory" to be found in playing with death is just abominable. He likes science and worships it nearly like a religion. It is good to be dedicated to a field but, "If the study….has a tendency to weaken your affections…then that study is…not befitting the human mind" (M Shelley 59). That escapes Frankenstein's grasp while he is creating the creature. He is only looking at the "glory" and not thinking about the human side of him, just of increasing his fame by making a major discover for science.
Frankenstein did have empathy for the Creature, "…but when [Frankenstein] looked upon [the Creature]… [his] heart sickened…" (M Shelley 130). It is such a short lived emotion for Frankenstein that it does not really exist. He did not think of the Creature as sentient, deserving respect, before and he does not change his opinion now. The thing with feeling for someone/something is that you need to be open to the feelings. Frankenstein is closed to those feelings and so does not even have a hope at them.
Prometheus thought "…what seemed the best was to…take my stand together with Zeus" (Aeschylus 11). Later, though, he grows to hate Zeus. Prometheus then thinks, "[Zeus] is free to act and free to reign for this short time…" (Aeschylus 39). Prometheus is totally confident that Zeus will fall from power without Prometheus' help. Prometheus develops extreme hatred for Zeus and so feels that his punishment is fine since Zeus will suffer in the end.
Prometheus has endured "Three thousand years of sleep-unsheltered hours…" (P Shelley 55) for his creation while Frankenstein does not even suffer one day to help the Creature. Prometheus has a sense of justice that is very outspoken. Not only did he create humanity but stood extreme torture so man could come out of the dark ages. When one cares for a cause one will undertake anything to see it through to the end. Prometheus sets out for a goal of suffering for humanity, though he is also doing it to spite Zeus.
Not only did Prometheus suffer for his creation but he taught humanity how to live. He describes how man is at first dumb and living in the dark until he comes to teach them how to live. It should not have been the De Laceys that taught the Creature how to speak, but Frankenstein himself. Prometheus understood the importance of educating people and helping them evolve. He knew that you cannot just leave a project after you have started it. From creating humanity, to bringing man out of the darkness, and suffering for humanity Prometheus held strong.
Prometheus and Frankenstein both play the parts of creators. Where they differ is in how they act after creation. Frankenstein wants glory and so backs quickly away when the Creature is different from what he had expected. Prometheus pities man and so helps him, suffering extreme torture for the good of man. Frankenstein is, indeed, a Prometheus in that he is a creator and that he suffers.

Works Cited
Aeschylus. "Prometheus Bound." Trans. Rex Warner. Prometheus Bound & Prometheus Unbound. New York: The Heritage Press, 1966. 3-45.

Hustis, Harriet. "Responsible creativity and the 'modernity' of Mary Shelley's Prometheus." Studies in English Literature v43. i42003 845(15). 16 Apr 2007 <galenet.galegroup.com.ezproxy.… >.

Kerenyi, C. Prometheus: Archetypal Image of Human Existence. Trans. Ralph Manheim. New York: Pantheon Books, 1963.

Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. 2nd. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2000.

Shelley, Percy Bysshe. "Prometheus Unbound." Trans. Rex Warner. Prometheus Bound & Prometheus Unbound. New York: The Heritage Press, 1966. 55-154