Frankenstein and Its Classics: The Modern Prometheus from Antiquity to Science Fiction

Description

Frankenstein and Its Classics is the first collection of scholarship dedicated to how Frankenstein and works inspired by it draw on ancient Greek and Roman literature, history, philosophy, and myth. Presenting twelve new essays intended for students, scholars, and other readers of Mary Shelley’s novel, the volume explores classical receptions in some of Frankenstein’s most important scenes, sources, and adaptations. Not limited to literature, the chapters discuss a wide range of modern materials—including recent films like Alex Garland’s Ex Machina and comics like Matt Fraction’s and Christian Ward’s Ody-C—in relation to ancient works including Hesiod’s Theogony, Aeschylus’s Prometheus Bound, Ovid’s Metamorphoses, and Apuleius’s The Golden Ass. All together, these studies show how Frankenstein, a foundational work of science fiction, brings ancient thought to bear on some of today’s most pressing issues, from bioengineering and the creation of artificial intelligence to the struggles of marginalized communities and political revolution. This addition to the comparative study of classics and science fiction reveals deep similarities between ancient and modern ways of imagining the world—and emphasizes the prescience and ongoing importance of Mary Shelley’s immortal novel. As Frankenstein turns 200, its complex engagement with classical traditions is more significant than ever. Cover page Halftitle page Series page Title page Copyright page Contents Preface Contributors Illustrations Introduction: The Modern Prometheus Turns 200 Frankenstein and Its Classics: The Case of Plutarch The Frankenstein Tradition: The Case of Scalzi (and Jared) Frankenstein ’s Classical Receptions and Twenty-First-Century Questions Outline of the Volume Notes Part One Promethean Heat 1 Patchwork Paratexts and Monstrous Metapoetics: “After tea M reads Ovid” Monstrous Metapoets: Ovidian Frankensteins Monstrous Metamorphoses: Matter unform’d and Ovid Patchwork Paratexts: “Prometheus mixt” Notes 2 Prometheus and Dr. Darwin’s Vermicelli: Another Stir to the Frankenstein Broth Galvanic or Organic? Two Films Which Prometheus? Erasmus Darwin’s Giants Little Worms and Dr. Darwin’s Vermicelli Magi and Alchemists Conclusion Notes 3 The Politics of Revivification in Lucan’s Bellum Civile and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein The “Galvanic Process”: Lucan’s and Shelley’s Monsters Lucan on the Corpse of the Res Publica Shelley and the French Revolution Notes 4 Romantic Prometheis and the Molding of Frankenstein Newton’s Return to Nature and Percy Shelley’s Queen Mab Pantheons and Modern Prometheis Notes 5 Why the ‘Year without a Summer’? Introduction The Eruption The Aftermath Conclusion: Mary Shelley in 1816 Glossary Notes 6 The Sublime Monster: Frankenstein , or The Modern Pandora Introduction Ars poetica: Hesiod’s Pandora How to Make a Monster Technology of the Sublime: Hesiod Deformity and/as the Kantian Sublime Technology of the Sublime: Longinus Conclusions: The Creature as Genius loci of the Sublime Landscape Notes Part Two Hideous Progeny 7 Cupid and Psyche in Frankenstein: Mary Shelley’s Apuleian Science Fiction? Introduction Historical Connections via Paratextual Evidence Cupid and Psyche in Frankenstein: Forms and Themes Cupid and Psyche at the End of Human History: The Last Man Conclusions: The Future of Frankenstein ’s Classical Receptions; or, Mary Shelley’s Apuleian Science Fiction? Notes 8 The Pale Student of Unhallowed Arts: Frankenstein, Aristotle, and theWisdom of Lucretius Notes 9 Timothy Leary and the Psychodynamics of Stealing Fire Literary Activism, or Hacking the Promethean Myth Timothy Leary; or, the Modern Victor Frankenstein Unmasking the Monster: Magic Mushrooms and the Neuropolitics of Empathy Reanimating Leary’s Legacy Notes 10 Frankenfilm: Classical Monstrosity in Bill Morrison’s Spark of Being Introduction Antiquarianism, Recombination, and Reanimation in Spark of Being Monsters in the Mirror, Monsters on the Screen Conclusion Notes 11 Alex Garland’s Ex Machina or The Modern Epimetheus Notes 12 The Postmodern Prometheus and Posthuman Reproductions in Science Fiction Thinking with Prometheus1 The Modern Prometheus Postmodern/Posthuman Prometheus Ancient Prometheus Notes Other Modern Prometheis: Suggestions for Further Reading and Viewing Short Stories, Novels, and Plays Film Television Bibliography Index