The Monster: The Delacey Family
Toby Litt uses the monster character to reflect how we try to avoid discovering ourselves because we fear what we might find. The monster expresses how it avoids contract with other monsters. “And this it gained socially from the kinds of monster which most commonly approached it with what seemed to be sexual intent, meaning an intent to sexually describe” (Litt 250). Pitt wants readers to understand that the monster
Frankenstein’s Monster is not categorized as evil by his malicious behavior and is sympathized with due to his creator abandoning him and the role of nature versus nurture taken place II. Monster’s Nature and alienation A. Monster originally had an inquisitive nature yet gentle nature a. Information on the German family was “each interesting and wonderful to one so utterly inexperienced as [he] was” (105) B. With the rejection and alienation from society, the only interactions the monster experiences, he becomes full of hatred a. Rejected by De Lacey family by his looks and labeled a monster b. Tries to save a child but is shot by child’s father C. Reader may feel sympathy towards the Monster’s actions because the readers know that his true nature was not evil and he was misjudged III.
(99). After being scorned for his grotesque and unbelievable physique, the monster observes and admires the De Lacey family, but, like all humans, is scared of rejection. He is quite literally an outsider, as he secretly lives adjacent to their cottage, watching them in their daily lives. The monster’s toddler-like behavior dissipates as he grows older, an evident human maturation parallel, but he never achieves full
The story is about him and the things he did in his lifetime, and the life lessons that the Creature needs. One of the many lessons we learn from The Last Lecture is that challenges are there for a reason. “But my heart sunk within me as with bitter sickness, and I refrained. I saw him on the point of repeating his blow, when, overcome by pain and anguish,” (Shelly page number 98). This is one of the hardest things the Creature has to face is the rejection of the DeLacey family.
Throughout the novel, the creation is constantly being “childlike”, wanting revenge, and does whatever it takes to get his way; including killing Frankenstein’s wife Elizabeth, and his brother, William. The creature is also described as very ugly, and no one can bear to look at him. Every human that sees him flees, including his creator, Victor Frankenstein. This is an example of what happened when the DeLacey family first met the creature. The creature grows an attachment to the DeLacey family and observes them for months through a hole in the , which can be seen as a human characteristic, however, when he finally comes in contact with them, they are frightened and chase him away.
In his attempt to satiate his hunger for success and acceptance, he brought forth the story of the monster, who similarly sought to belong and be understood by those around him, coming across Felix and Agathe in his pursuit, who were excluded from society and lived in segregation, also wanting acceptance. The importance of understanding
Though the being has the physical characteristics of a monster, it is only after he is repeatedly rejected by society that he adopts the personality and behavior of a monster. With that being said, society plays a large role in shaping
The monster depicts his otherness when he wonders: “Was I, then, a monster, a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled and whom all men disowned” (Shelley 85). The monster evidently remains in isolation and is dehumanized. The monster attempts to get integrated into his society but his appearance and lack of social skills hinder his success. The monster strives to be accepted but is incapable of acceptance. The monster reiterates this feeling of isolation as he says: “I felt as if I were placed under a ban- as if I had no right to claim their sympathies – as if never more might I enjoy companionship with them” (Shelley 108).
Frankenstein’s creature initially shows no signs of ill will or malice when first encountering human beings (Shelley 72-73). On the contrary, through careful observation he is able to learn more about human society and personal relationships. He begins to admire the close connection between the people he observes and respects their virtue. This, however, makes him realise what he is missing. Observing the love and affection between others only increases the effect his own solitude has on him.
The seventh thesis “The Monster Stands at the Threshold…of Becoming” brings attention to the fact that we are the creators of monsters. They make us question why we have created them; how we perceive the world, how we have misinterpreted so that we can reevaluate cultural assumptions about the different race, gender, sexuality.
Society would never accept him as society treats outcast and people that are any 'different ' atrociously. The monster acquired books of "Paradise Lost", "Plutarch 's Lives" and "The Sorrows of Werter", which "gave him extreme delight" as he studied and exercised his mind. When he came across the DeLacey family, hope sparked inside of him as he believed he would finally be accepted by at least a small part of society. Intelligently enough the monster made his move and approached the blind old man, in which he knew wouldn 't be able to see him or judge him by his distorted appearance. He finally grasps the chance into talking to the old man, De Lacey and he acknowledges that if he fails in being accepted by them he will be "an outcast in the world for ever".
This experience allows the monster to realize, that despite being perfect beings, even beauty can experience sorrow, just as ugliness can experience serenity. The monster also learns that the family is in similar position as his own, in which they are isolated from their society due to their crimes. From this judgement, the monster is able to approach the father of the household, by disguising himself as a lowly traveller in need of shelter, the
A plethora of instances depicted in the novel bolsters the reader's understanding of the monster's development of empathy which originated during
The monster shows his sorrow after being rejected by the cottagers; “I continued for the remainder of the day in my hovel in a state of utter and stupid despair. My protectors had departed, and had broken the only link that held me to the world. For the first time the feelings of revenge and hatred filled my bosom” (Shelley 97). The creature leaves where he was abandoned to a cottage of the Delacey’s there he learns about humanity. After learning he accidentally drives the Delacey’s apart from him, causing great depression and anger (Frasait).
Regardless of who we strive to be, or who we dare not to be, those who we respect and look up to will be the ones who leave an impression on our lives. To the Monster’s credit, it continued to pursue a life of good deeds until the people it idolized turn on it. Because of the influence made on it by its parental figures the Monster behaves like an outsider, and as an outsider it gains new role models and is governed by new emotions such as anger and hate. The monster should not be blamed for its malicious nature, rather, the people who taught it hate and the Doctor who created it without a true intent of being its
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