Frankenstein Passage Analysis

In the following passage from Frankenstein, the author vividly depicts the beginning stage of the creatures life with the creature recalling his first impressions of the world through the form of a flashback. The author expertly orchestrates this passage as the creature analyzes how his purely sensory experience in a completely socially isolated setting shaped his actions and state of mind at the time. Through the creatures reflections, this affirms how the environment that an individual is born and raised into directly affects their understanding of the world. With this being the overall arching theme of the passage, it is evident how impressionable the creature is in relation to his environment - much like how an infant is while learning

Through the author's use of vivid imagery and heavy appeal to the senses, the abundance of stimulation dominating the creatures raw state of senses illustrates how every noise, touch, or sight floods and overwhelms his stature. The creature states how he couldn't “distinguish between the operations of [his] various senses” and how he “was obliged to shut [his] eyes [thus] darkness then overcame [him]”. From this, it is evident he lacks any guidance or mentorship, leaving him in the dark, unaware about the workings of the world which is perhaps why the light overwhelms him. Left alone, the creature is unequipped with any knowledge on how to care for himself or explore this new world. He describes himself as “a poor, helpless, miserable wretch.” He is utterly defenseless and ignorant to everything around him, much

He's not only in a physically isolated environment devoid of all society, but he is also in a mentally desolate place, devoid of any connection to himself. He states how “no distinct sounds occupied [his] mind; all was confused.” His isolation from other people directly causes his lack of understanding regarding expression, relationships, societal norms, or anything about the human world as a whole. Although his only pressing issues are those of a wild animal: supplying himself food and water, finding shelter and staying warm, his curiosity and longing to understand more complex subjects clearly stresses how he is more human than animal. Without any basic insight into what makes us human, he is suspended in a state of lonely confusion and distress, unequipped with how to analyze his own state of being. This is depicted through his longing “to [express his] sensations in [his] own mode, but the uncouth and inarticulate sounds which broke from [him] frightened [him] into silence again.” If not for this barrier between himself and his emotions, this particular level of isolation would not have been present at this stage in his