A Human Monster Although humans are similar to other mammals around the world, the thing that most elevates them above these other creatures is human nature. Human nature is something that we all understand and experience, but is difficult to truly define. Our human nature is essentially centered around our want for social interaction, capacity for emotions, creative and higher level of thinking. In Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, written in 1816, the monster is more human than his creator, Victor Frankenstein, because it exhibits stronger human qualities than Victor including: a desire for companionship and personal interaction, an ability to show compassion and grace to others, and has an imagination and intelligence. Throughout the novel, the Monster shows a human characteristic of longing for companionship and love. He even says that “Satan has his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but [he is] solitary and detested” (Shelley 93). Once the Monster realizes this, he flees into the woods, and begins observing a family that lives in a cottage out there. He sees the way that they treat each other, and says that “[his] thoughts now become more active, and [he] longed to discover the motives and feeling of these lovely creatures” (Shelley 80). This shows that he wants what these people have, not their material things, but someone to love on, and someone to love him. Further, the Monster knows that no ordinary person is going to want to spend their