I've been waiting for you, Obi-Wan. We meet again, at last. The circle is now complete. When I left you, I was but the learner; now *I* am the master.
"Darth Vader" Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope
Basic Information
Named after Frankenstein's monster, this mental disorder - or possibly narrative trope - concerns the seemingly inevitable rebellion of the created against its creator.
Whether trope or syndrome this phenomenon is old - arguably its first incarnation is in human antitheism before it crops up in human's own creations, but we could equally argue that it has its roots in the rebellious tendencies of human adolescents. Certainly it seems to fit well to myths of the titanomachy and similar conflicts in mankind's oldest myths.
Interestingly, in the Golem legends, where the connection of human creation to divine creation is pretty much explicit, the rebellion of the Golem usually results from some imperfection in the Golem maker's relationship with his own Creator.
This phenomenon is easily - but wrongly - confused with the Frankenstein Complex, a syndrome related to the uncanny valley whereby humans tend to reject anything artificial that is too human like.
Sources
Game and Story Use
- This is made of narrativium - in pretty much any plot that involves someone creating anything with even limited powers to think for itself, it will turn against them.
- Likewise, proteges and similar 'creations' will betray their patrons.