Mary Shelley's Presentation of the Creature

For a modern reader, the creature evokes pity in the end rather than

fear. How do you respond to Mary Shelley’s presentation of the

creature?

Mary Shelley’s presentation that ‘the creature evokes pity in the end

rather than fear’ is a view that is shared by many readers, including

myself. Although naturally, many people would not agree with her

presentation as everyone has a different perspective on the novel’s

events, and everyone will have their own personal view on what

feelings and emotions the creature evokes. Also many people may find

it hard to see past all the evil the creature has committed by

murdering innocent victims that they will find it difficult to pity

the creature and still fear it.

Also people may find it hard to change their views and opinions so

drastically form fear to pity.

There are many reasons which cause me to respond to Mary Shelley’s

presentation of the creature in the same way as she does. From the

first time that the monster is introduced to us (the readers), it is

hard to feel any emotions of pity towards it, as we are immediately

exposed to Frankenstein’s reaction, which is that of horror, fear and

disgust:-

“breathless horror and disgust filled my heart”. Straight-away we are

influenced by Frankenstein’s view as this part of the novel is written

from his perspective.

The creature is the nameless product of Victor’s ambition and

curiosity, and desire of knowledge. He remains anonymous right up to

the end of the novel, and is referred to as a “monster”, a “demon”, a

“devil”, “abhorred monster”, “miserable existence” and many more. It

is ironic that one refers to him as a “monster” or a “demon”, when he

starts out more innocent and humane than many of the other characters.

Half way through the novel, when the creature confronts Frankenstein

and tells him his tale, is when I and many readers begin to feel

emotions of pity towards the monster and the initial feelings of fear

disperse. His tale of learning to communicate, and learning the

language of humans, and of the De Lacey family evokes these feelings,

and by the end of his tale and the novel, we have gradually learnt to

pity him more as we learn of his “miserable existence” and of his

constant loneliness due to being rejected from anyone he meets.

By the end of the novel, we have learnt all about the creature and we

know of everything that has occurred leading up to this point. There

are many reasons which cause me to pity the creature in the end.

Firstly, he was abandoned immediately when he came into existence by