Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

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Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

We are first introduced to the creature when Frankenstein, his

creator, is describing him. First he is described as something

beautiful "limbs were in proportion" and "features were beautiful".

However, his ability to self-contradict becomes apparent very quickly

when he finishes his sentence by saying:

"â?¦These luxuriance's only form a more horrid contrast with his watery

eyesâ?¦"

With words like "shrivelled complexion" and "straight black lips",

this gives the impression to the reader that firstly the creature does

not look a human being and, secondly, he is hideous in Frankenstein's

eyes. Also when the creature is bought to life the setting is "a

dreary night of November", "rain pattered dismally against the pains"

and his "candle was nearly burnt out". This pathetic fallacy sets an

eerie stage and the reader can anticipate that something bad is about

to happen, and can almost predict that the creature is going to be

ominously different.

The creature differs to humans in many ways. Firstly, his physical

appearance is different; he is eight foot tall, "yellow skin scarcely

covered the work of muscles and arteries" and shrivelled complexion

and black lips. Secondly, his arrival into the world was by artificial

means and not by conception and birth. He was not created by God or

'Prometheus'. This only enhanced the belief that he could only be evil

by not been born of man through God.

The first person that sees the creature (apart from Frankenstein)

"â?¦Shrieked loudly" and "ran across fields". This emphasises the fact

that the creature does not only look different and scary in

Franken...

... middle of paper ...

...volution would be

unnecessary.

.

Both the creature and his creator are warnings/demonstrations to the

world: the powerful must esteem and respect the powerless, or

revolution will ensue.

Now I come to answer the question "does Shelly intend us to respond to

the creature as a monster". What Mary Shelly is saying is that

monsters aren't born they are made. This is evident in the way that

the creature is treated. When he is first introduced to the world he

is a kind, loving being, perhaps even an example of goodness. But when

in the face of people he is rejected, cursed upon and unloved, this in

effect turns the creature into a monster. Mary is also saying that

reform, when it is controlled and in the right hands is not a bas

thing, but when we fail to control it will grow uncontrollable and

become evil.

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