The Monster
English Lit: Edexcel A Level Frankenstein, topic 2.2.1
The Monster
The Monster is initially presented to the reader from the perspective of Victor Frankenstein (as his creator).
Victor's perspective
- Victor's narrative, full of horror and disgust at the "fiend" he has built, instantly prejudices the reader against the creature.
- We are later informed he has killed William Frankenstein and framed Justine Moritz for the murder of the child.
The Monster's perspective
- However, Shelley’s multi-layered narrative allows the reader to experience the Monster’s own perspective, which exposes a story of vulnerability, isolation and misery.
- From its ‘birth’ in the dingy laboratory of Frankenstein, the creature is exiled into a cruel, hostile world.
Innate goodness
- The Monster's alterity (difference from others) juxtaposes greatly with its childlike innocence.
- The Monster seems to have innate goodness at heart (see Rousseau and Locke) which is eventually corrupted and eroded away by the treatment the Monster receives in society.
- "I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend."
The De Laceys
- After secretly watching the De Lacey family and learning to read and write, the Monster learns what it is to be human from great works of fiction and nonfiction.
- He decides to speak to the De Lacey family but is rejected by them, as they are terrified by his grotesque form.
Revenge
- In anger and sadness, he burns down their house after they flee for safety.
- He then goes on a terrifying journey of revenge, wreaking havoc and chaos in order to make his maker, Victor, suffer the consequences of his actions: "You are my creator, but I am your master; - obey!"
The Monster
Victor reneges on his promise to make a female creature, destroying the parts of the body he had already crafted. The creature vows to take revenge.
Revenge
- After Victor goes back on his promise, the creature becomes incandescent with rage and vows to "be with (him) on his wedding night".
- This threat is taken by Victor to be aimed solely at him and is stunned when he is arrested for the death of Clerval, who has died at the hands of the Monster too.
The wedding
- Being cleared of the offence, Victor returns back to Geneva to marry Elizabeth. However, soon after his nuptials, he realises that his wife is the intended victim of the Monster, who is exacting the same revenge upon Victor that he had to suffer:
- "Shall each man… find a wife for his bosom, and each beast have his mate, and I be alone?"
Further deaths
- After Elizabeth’s death, Alphonse Frankenstein dies of a broken heart and the Monster and Victor are locked in a cat and mouse game across the Arctic.
- Walton is the last one to talk to the Monster, who he finds mourning over the body of Victor then fleeing off into the desolate realms of the Arctic.
Test yourself on The Monster
From whose perspective do learn of the Monster's misery?
Which of these are true of the Monster?
What does the Monster vow to do after Victor refuses to build a female companion?
Whose body is the Monster mourning over when Walton finds him?