The De Lacey Family

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The De Lacey Family

The De Lacey family are an exiled French family who the Monster observes whilst he is hiding, learning how to speak and interact by observing them over a period of months.

Observing the De Laceys

The De Lacey family consist of an old blind man, his son and daughter, Felix and Agatha.
They are an exiled French family who the Monster observes whilst he is hiding, learning how to speak and interact by observing them over a period of months.
"I admired virtue and good feelings, and loved the gentle manners and amiable qualities of my cottagers."

Kindness

After becoming increasingly fond of their warmth and affection for one another, the Monster decides he will reveal himself at first to the old man, due to his blindness.
The old man accepts the Monster’s story and likens his family’s fate to that of the Monster, stating "judge, therefore, if I do not feel for your misfortunes".
The Monster is overcome with this kindness ("From your lips first have I heard the voice of kindness direct towards me").

Fear

It is only when Felix returns home with Agatha and Safie (a Turkish young woman who has fled her family to be with Felix) that he reacts with terror and anger at the Monster conversing with his father, resulting in the family fleeing and the Monster burning the cottage down in fury and intense sadness.

Safie

Safie is the daughter of a Christian Arab woman and a Turkish merchant, who is imprisoned in Paris.

Safie's family

Felix was at the court case and disgusted by the miscarriage of justice.
The ‘Turk’ (Safie's father) uses Safie as a ‘pawn’ to get out of prison through the close relationship she has made with Felix.
However, he does not intend to let her marry him due to contrasting religious beliefs.

Escape

After defying her father and remembering the teachings of her late mother (who was a Christian Arab who was once enslaved) on the importance of "independence" and "higher powers of intellect", Safie escapes and flees to Felix.
She ends up in Germany at the De Lacey cottage in hopes of seeing Felix again.

Education

While she is at the De Lacey cottage, she is taught language among other things.
The Monster is able to watch Safie's education take place and forms an indirect connection with her.

Female independence

Safie is the only female character in the novel who defies patriarchal society by escaping from her father and wholly embraces being educated in order to change her life and help her assimilate to her new surroundings.

Shelley's mother

Some critics have argued that Safie’s independent streak could be a nod to Shelley’s own proto-feminist mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, who argued that men and women should be seen as rational equals in society in her landmark text 'A Vindication of the Rights of Women' in 1792.

Safie

In terms of alterity, Safie serves as an example of the ‘other’ when she arrives at the De Lacey household, even though she is well received by all.

Similarities to the Monster

You could argue that Safie is alike to the Monster, as she too starts unable to communicate, has escaped from her father figure and ventures far in order to gain a sense of belonging:
"I soon perceived, that although the stranger uttered articulate sounds, and appeared to have a language of her own, she was neither understood by, or herself understood, the cottagers."

Physical appearances

Safie’s position as an outsider offers immediate hope to the Monster that he too will be accepted by society.
But eventually, her appearance displays to him that even the virtuous De Lacey family cannot transcend the prejudices that humans hold over physical appearances in their horrified rejection of him.