In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the monster lurches into existence as large as a man but with the intelligence of a newborn. He is unable to read, speak, or comprehend basic social cues. Yet when he comes upon the cottagers, he learns language by seeing and listening to their conversation. The monster is transformed from an enigmatic nightmare into a sympathetic and tragic person because to this language acquisition and the eloquence it delivers. Shelley makes the case that verbal communication—rather than action or appearance—is the only means by which humans can genuinely understand one another by illustrating how language transforms the monster and by contrasting the articulate monster with his equally articulate creator. The monster's behaviors are absolutely horrifying before he learns how to communicate. The fact that he managed to escape Victor's workshop in a frightening manner, and that he killed William, seems to support the theory that he is a strong, evil creature capable of random acts of violence. His startling entrance makes matters worse. Victor …show more content…
He confesses that once Victor deserted him, he was scared and alone. He expresses how hurt he was to learn that his appearance terrifies regular folks. His account of saving a small girl and receiving a bullet for his pains displays his inclination to aid those weaker than himself and arouses our fury at society's unjustifiable harshness toward him. These stories demonstrate his empathy for and covert assistance with the cottagers. Even the monster's account of William's murder makes the compelling case that the monster's rage at Victor was what ultimately led to the crime; this is by no means an excuse, but it is at least a plausible psychological explanation. Shelley pushes us to view the monster's behavior from a completely different perspective and to empathize with his predicament by granting him the ability to