Evolution
Ancient Greek Mythology
The mad scientist as known today can be linked to the Greek god Prometheus. Aeschylus was a Greek tragedy playwright who was born around 525 B.C who wrote the myth of Prometheus in his famous play Prometheus Bound. Against the will of the Zeus, Prometheus gave fire to humans (A.E. Haigh). The element of fire along with other skills given to them by Prometheus gave humans intelligence and the ability to overcome the elements of nature and to rule the earth. In certain areas, such as Athens, Prometheus was greatly revered for his gift. In punishment, Zeus chains Prometheus to a rock and eventually thrown into the Greek’s equivalent to hell. Because Prometheus freed humans from their ignorance, he could be considered the father of the human intellect. As myth goes, humans may still be living in caves huddling together for warmth was it not for Prometheus’s gift of fire and knowledge. Prometheus therefore symbolizes intelligence and human progress.
It is interesting to note that rebellion played a huge role in his story. As time progresses, rebellion continues to play a large role in literature with mad scientist characters. In fact, rebellion is part of the reason these characters are considered to be “mad.” Rebellion is not only the act of defying orders, but also deviating from the norm. This is how rebellion is portrayed in later mad scientist characters. The struggle of knowledge against force is also depicted through Prometheus’ rebellion.
The mad scientist as known today can be linked to the Greek god Prometheus. Aeschylus was a Greek tragedy playwright who was born around 525 B.C who wrote the myth of Prometheus in his famous play Prometheus Bound. Against the will of the Zeus, Prometheus gave fire to humans (A.E. Haigh). The element of fire along with other skills given to them by Prometheus gave humans intelligence and the ability to overcome the elements of nature and to rule the earth. In certain areas, such as Athens, Prometheus was greatly revered for his gift. In punishment, Zeus chains Prometheus to a rock and eventually thrown into the Greek’s equivalent to hell. Because Prometheus freed humans from their ignorance, he could be considered the father of the human intellect. As myth goes, humans may still be living in caves huddling together for warmth was it not for Prometheus’s gift of fire and knowledge. Prometheus therefore symbolizes intelligence and human progress.
It is interesting to note that rebellion played a huge role in his story. As time progresses, rebellion continues to play a large role in literature with mad scientist characters. In fact, rebellion is part of the reason these characters are considered to be “mad.” Rebellion is not only the act of defying orders, but also deviating from the norm. This is how rebellion is portrayed in later mad scientist characters. The struggle of knowledge against force is also depicted through Prometheus’ rebellion.
Enlightenment Era
In the late 17th and early 18th century the Enlightenment era hit Europe. This era was known as the age of reason in which reason began to outweigh traditional standings. Perhaps the greatest thing that individuals challenged during this time was the church and their faith. The scientific method was developed during this time which brought on a wave of new science and questions that had to be answered. Great philosophers emerged at this time as well as other scientists, such as Isaac Newton the physicist. The literary mad scientist at this time focused himself in Alchemy. One of the main goals of an alchemist was to turn one element into another and find the secret to longevity.
One such alchemist that comes to mind is Archdeacon Claude Frollo of Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame published in 1830 (Hugo). Claude Frollo was a man of the church, yet he chose to practice alchemy which was sacrilegious and illegal in France. Claude Frollo was a mad man who was insensitive and selfish, to put it lightly. Mad scientists, like Prometheus, normally have some good intentions in their work. Others like Claude Frollo, I believe, are purely evil. The mad scientist character from here on seems to lose even more of his humanity.
In the late 17th and early 18th century the Enlightenment era hit Europe. This era was known as the age of reason in which reason began to outweigh traditional standings. Perhaps the greatest thing that individuals challenged during this time was the church and their faith. The scientific method was developed during this time which brought on a wave of new science and questions that had to be answered. Great philosophers emerged at this time as well as other scientists, such as Isaac Newton the physicist. The literary mad scientist at this time focused himself in Alchemy. One of the main goals of an alchemist was to turn one element into another and find the secret to longevity.
One such alchemist that comes to mind is Archdeacon Claude Frollo of Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame published in 1830 (Hugo). Claude Frollo was a man of the church, yet he chose to practice alchemy which was sacrilegious and illegal in France. Claude Frollo was a mad man who was insensitive and selfish, to put it lightly. Mad scientists, like Prometheus, normally have some good intentions in their work. Others like Claude Frollo, I believe, are purely evil. The mad scientist character from here on seems to lose even more of his humanity.
The Victorian Age
The classic image of the mad scientist comes from the Victorian Age in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During this time, science was making another leap of advancement. Better technology was being created and better understanding followed. Cultural norms played a huge role in society for an age of such great change. The “model man” was physically fit, healthy, polite, and proper and was something everyone strived and was expected to be. It was not revered to step out of this mold and this normalcy is one strong characteristic of the Victorian Age (Stiles 322). Medical science also advanced at this time, including psychology. In 1900, something similar to the bell curve of the human IQ was developed. Those with considerable deviation from the norm, either above or below, were considered to have some mental impairment, hence the insanity of the genius (Stiles 322). A genius in the Victorian Age was rebellious in the fact that he believed his intellect was more viable than social status, which at the time held the hierarchy of society. Again mental instability and rebellion play a role in the making of a mad scientist.
This era is the epitome of the mad scientist character. The infamous Dr. Frankenstein from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is one of the most recognizable mad scientists of all time. This novel is discussed in more detail under MARY SHELLEY'S FRANKENSTEIN. Other works from this time period include Prometheus Unbound written by Mary Shelley’s husband, Percy Shelley in 1820 and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde written by Robert Stevenson in 1886.
To read about a modern mad scientist visit THE MODERN MAD SCIENTIST page.
The classic image of the mad scientist comes from the Victorian Age in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During this time, science was making another leap of advancement. Better technology was being created and better understanding followed. Cultural norms played a huge role in society for an age of such great change. The “model man” was physically fit, healthy, polite, and proper and was something everyone strived and was expected to be. It was not revered to step out of this mold and this normalcy is one strong characteristic of the Victorian Age (Stiles 322). Medical science also advanced at this time, including psychology. In 1900, something similar to the bell curve of the human IQ was developed. Those with considerable deviation from the norm, either above or below, were considered to have some mental impairment, hence the insanity of the genius (Stiles 322). A genius in the Victorian Age was rebellious in the fact that he believed his intellect was more viable than social status, which at the time held the hierarchy of society. Again mental instability and rebellion play a role in the making of a mad scientist.
This era is the epitome of the mad scientist character. The infamous Dr. Frankenstein from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is one of the most recognizable mad scientists of all time. This novel is discussed in more detail under MARY SHELLEY'S FRANKENSTEIN. Other works from this time period include Prometheus Unbound written by Mary Shelley’s husband, Percy Shelley in 1820 and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde written by Robert Stevenson in 1886.
To read about a modern mad scientist visit THE MODERN MAD SCIENTIST page.