Shelley uses imagery relating to your senses to describes the creature’s awakening. Shelley compares this awakening to a baby who was just born.
“A strange multiplicity of sensations seized me, and I saw, felt, heard, and smelt, at the same time…”(Shelley 90), this quote means that the monster just experienced the all the new senses. This reaction reminds me of going to a place you’ve never been and having to adjust to the different environment. At first, the new environment is strange to you and takes a while for you to become comfortable there. The monster’s birth was like other creatures and living things and people shouldn’t judge him based off there first look at him. They should give him a fair chance to understand and adjust to him.
2. The change in narration in the story from Victor Frankenstein to the monster completely alters the reader’s viewpoint on the novel at this point. The monster is finally given a chance to tell his own story and readers begin to sympathize for him and dislike Victor. The reader sees the monster as more of a human than a monster and realize how much he is like a human. A quote that makes the reader feel sympathy for the monster states, “Food, however, became scarce, and I often spent the whole day searching in vain for a few acorns to assuage the pangs of hunger” (Shelley 92). This quote offers an insight into the monster’s world and how even finding food became a struggle for him. By being abandoned he struggled to find enough food sources and the readers can experience how hard life has been for the monster.
3. The DeLacey family plays a crucial role in the creature’s development because the monster learns the power of speech by listening to the family. This was the most important thing he learned from the family. The monster also sees the family being happy together and deal with hard times. The creature realizes the power a family or companion can make in your life. A quote that talks to this states, “He raised her and smiled with kindness and affection that I felt sensations of a peculiar and overpowering nature..”(Shelley 96). This speaks to how the emotions shared between family members are new and different for the monster. He has never seen this and the shared affection and caring between loved ones is something the monster has never experienced.
Chapters 13-14
1. Mary Shelley includes the events in chapter 13 because it shows how the monster is learning about human society and how he has become so intellectual. The monster realizes that he is different and alone. “Was I then a monster,.. a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled, and whom all men disowned?”(Shelley 108). The monster is contemplating his deformity and also learns about the pleasures of the family and of human relations in general. The creature has to think of where he belongs among human life as he is a misfit. This specifically touches on the good and bad portrayed by humans. A quote that describes this is the monster wondering, “Was man, indeed, at once so powerful, so virtuous and magnificent, yet so vicious and base? (Shelley 107)
2. Readers learn that the DeLacey family was very wealthy upper class citizens in France. Felix was a civil servant and Agatha was ranked with high class. When Safie’s father is sentenced to death, Felix tries to help free him. French authorities catch them and lead to there ruin. They then move to Germany in the house which the monster has found. This highlights the monster and his thoughts as it shows that everyone has to go through hard times which directly relates to the monster’s life. A quote that describes the monster’s thoughts is “I Heard of the division of property, of immense wealth and squalid poverty, of rank, descent, and noble blood”(Shelley 108). This shows the high position the DeLacey family once held.
Chapters 15-16
1. “…Hateful day when I received life!’ Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust?…. Satan had his companions, fellow devils, to admire and encourage him, but I am solitary and abhorred” (Shelley 119). The monster after discovering that his own creator is horrified by his existence, continues to lose hope about his position in the world. He is left alone with no one to care for him or show him love. “I was dependent on none and related to none….My person was hideous and my stature gigantic… These questions continually recurred, but I was unable to solve them”(Shelley 117). The quote expands on the idea of how the monster has expanded his knowledge from listening and reading literature on his existence and his place int the world. “Sometimes I allowed my thoughts, unchecked by reason, to ramble in the fields of Paradise, and dared to fancy amiable and lovely creatures sympathizing with my feelings and cheering my gloom;…”(Shelley 118). This quote continues on the theme of how the monster is expanding knowledge and becoming much more intelligent and aware of his place on earth. It shows how his thoughts are directly focused and stemmed on a few pieces of literature. It shows that he may be narrow-minded and needs to broaden his horizons to other possibilities and pieces of literature.
2. The creature’s motivation for his vow of Eternal hatred on mankind comes from a few instances. One being was the cruelty of man, when people saw him they regarded him as a monster and nothing more. This lead to him wondering why he was alive. Another instance occurred when the blind man felt the creature’s hand. The man and the creature were having a deep conversation, but when their hands made contact the man rejected the creature. A quote is “Great god! Who are you?” (Shelley 123). This instance is followed by the kids and there reactions which include trying to beat the creature up. Another instance occurred when the creature tried to save the life of a young girl. He saved her life, but was blamed for the crime because of his looks. The creature had enough and vowed hatred.
3. Yes, I would say it s a valid request, however, there are pros and cons to either choice he picks. If Victor makes another one pro would be the monster said “If you consent, neither you nor any other human being shall ever see us again…”(Shelley 135), Victor would never have to deal with this monster ever again. Con’s of creating another monster is that he would be potentially doubling his problem. Victor says to the monster “She might also turn with disgust from him to the superior beauty of man; she might quit him, and he be again alone…”( Shelley 134), meaning they may not love each other. Victor also doesn’t want the monster killing any one else. The monster has told Victor he will continue killing people if his request is not met. I do believe Victor should make him a companion for the monster because he created it and innocent people shouldn’t have to die.
Chapters 17-24
2. Victor is fearing that the monster is going to hurt someone as he leaves. He is fearing that the monster will kill Elizabeth. Victor is also fearing that when he creates another he might double the problem he already has. The monster has already killed multiple people so how does Victor know if he will leave when he says. It is ironic because Victor was once so proud of the monster he created but now fears it. A quote that fits is “You swear, to be harmless; but have you not already shown a degree of malice that should reasonably make me distrust you?” (Shelley 136). Victor is questioning if he should trust the monster to not cause harm and if he will be able to go to England.
3.Evidence that Victor still feels responsible for the murders is that he still won’t marry Elizabeth. Victor is already felling guilty and responsible for the deaths of many people and doesn’t want to make Elizabeth a target by marrying her. A quote that shows this is, “To England, therefore, I was bound, and it was understood that my union with Elizabeth should take place immediately on my return” (Shelley 142). This shows that after the creation of the monster Victor will hopefully be able to marry Elizabeth without the threat of her being killed. There is evidence that shows Victor still blaming the monster. For example, half way through creating the female monster he changes his mind and destroys it. This shows he is hesitant to make a monster that could cause a great deal of harm.
4. Victor views the Orkneys as a miserable little island and views everything about it as bad. He talks of miserable people on the island and the horrible conditions.. His views on the island is very negative and reflects his emotional state. Victor is in a poor state and is just miserable. This island reflects the emotions of Victor. A quote that talks to this is “It was a place fitted for such work, being hardly more than a rock whose high sides were continually beaten upon by the waves” (Shelley 152). Victor describes the island as nothing special and also mentions the horrible huts and housing on the island.
5. Personally, I would say no the creature is not justified in his feelings. I understand that He is angry at Victor because he didn’t follow his requests. A quote that shows Victor going against the request is “I do not break my promise; never will I create another like yourself, equal in deformity and wickedness” (Shelley 157). His request also goes against the natural cycle of nature. Victor will have to risk messing up the natural cycle of life again. The creature got very emotional at Victor and the female companion still isn’t even alive. This proves that the monster is even less justified in his feelings.
6. The only reason Victor is still alive is because the monster wants to prolong his suffering. The creature lives life alone and miserably by killing Victor’s loved ones he is feeling the same as the monster. Victor needs to be alive for the monster to execute his plan and leaves only Victor’s loved ones as options. Victor becomes focused that the monster is coming after him instead of his family. This shows Victor’s self-centerness and lack of awareness of his surroundings. A quote that supports this is “More miserable than man ever was before, why did I not sink into forgetfulness and rest?” (Shelley 167). Victor is confused why he is alive instead of his family.
7. If Elizabeth and Victor got married it would help recover the relationship with his father. Victor says, “Elizabeth alone had the power to draw me from these fits; her gentle voice would soothe me when transported by passion, and inspire me with human feelings when sunk in torpor” (Shelley 180). This shows her ability to allow Victor ease. Elizabeth was doubting their relationship after this time and believed that Victor may be seeing somebody and considered ending the relationship. Throughout the novel Elizabeth could be described as the healer of her family. Elizabeth’s death has perpetuated her role throughout the story. Her being alive helped Victor heal his relationship with his father and see did so much for both of them. She brought them together and after she dies, Alphonse dies of the pain he experiences and Victor is left alone with little hope for life.
8.The irony in this is that Victor’s excessive amount of pride of wisdom created the monster. Victor’s pride of wisdom got him into this as he believed he was powerful enough to be able to play god. “You refuse my just demand; I have but one resource, and I devote myself, either in my life or death, to his destruction” (Shelley 191). Victor now is attempting to destroy his creation which was caused due to his excessive pride of wisdom. Victor did not think his decision through and believed he was good enough to play god.
9. Victor’s main motivation which lead to his vow to kill the monster occurred after the monster had killed Elizabeth. After the other deaths Victor already had to be considering how to deal with the creature. Now that the creature went after Victors love, Elizabeth, he vows to end it. This is one of the main lessons through the book, Victor is finally standing up for himself and fighting back. Before Victor would stay away from the monster and not face it but now he has decided to fight. A quote that supports this says, “They were dead, and I lived; their murderer also lived, and to destroy him I must drag out my weary existence” (Shelley 193). Victor is vowing to give everything he has to fight the monster. It says to drag out his weary existence showing he doesn’t have much left but he is going to fight. Victor also learns too much knowledge can lead to self destruction.
10.I do believe Walton has changed after listening to Victor’s story. Walton and Victor are similar as both want the attention of their discoveries . Victor’s unfortunately leads to horrible conditions and life for him. Walton hears Victors downfall and agrees to go home to safety after hearing the destruction that Victor caused in many other people’s lives. Walton says, “Yet it is terrible to reflect that the lives of all these men are endangered through me. If we are lost, my mad schemes are the cause” Walton has a realization that if anything happened it would be his fault and he doesn’t want to be responsible for this. It is a tough decision for Walton to go home but he must to ensure the safety of his crew. I do believe Walton has changed, he’s become more aware of the consequences that could be a cause of him and make better decisions..
11.I enjoy the overall story of Frankenstein and the main events. However, the book I did not particularly enjoy as I believe the book is dragged out and too long. I understand that Shelley had to fit in important plot details and introduce different characters but I just believe that it could of been accomplished in a shorter story. I believe that the plot structure could of focused a little less on Victor as a lot of the time it was just focused on Victor and his emotions during that part of the story. Although it is important to get characters feelings and emotions in the story I believe they didn’t have to look so extensively into his emotions. The story did end very well as it picked up and became more interesting and entertaining. Overall, I believe Franentsein was a decent book with a good plot sequence of events but just a little dragged out.
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