1818 Edition, Volume II, Chapter 7
6 “Another circumstance strengthened and confirmed these feelings. Soon after my arrival in the hovel, I discovered some papers in the pocket of the dress which I had taken from your laboratory. At first I had neglected them; but now that I was able to decipher the characters in which they were written, I began to study them with diligence. It was your journal of the four months that preceded my creation. You minutely described in these papers every step you took in the progress of your work; this history was mingled with accounts of domestic occurrences. You, doubtless, recollect these papers. Here they are. Everything is related in them which bears reference to my accursed origin; the whole detail of that series of disgusting circumstances which produced it is set in view; the minutest description of my odious and loathsome person is given, in language which painted your own horrors, and rendered mine indelible. I sickened as I read. 'Hateful day when I received life!’ I exclaimed in agony. ‘Cursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust? God in pity made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours, more horrid from its very resemblance. Satan had his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am solitary and detested.’”
How did the creature feel when he read Frankenstein’s papers? Why do you think he felt this way?
After reading the text at the top of page 109, ask students to briefly discuss what the creature means.
Compare the creature’s smile at the bottom of page 109 with his smile at the top of page 104. What is the difference between these smiles?
Write a summary explaining the interactions the creature has had with other characters in Volume II, Chapters 5 and 6.
How has the amount of sympathy that the creature has received from the other characters influenced his motivations and behaviors?
Throughout the story, readers gain a deeper understanding of the creature’s point of view than most of the other characters do. What effect is created by the difference between the readers’ and the characters’ understanding of the creature?
Go to Volume II, Chapter 5, in the graphic novel. (10 min, 100 words)
Did your feelings about the creature change from Chapter 5 to Chapter 6? Explain why or why not, using and analyzing evidence from the text. Be sure to explain what each piece of evidence shows. (You may also use evidence from the illustrations.)
Volume II, Chapter 5, Pages 105–107 1 “Who is there? Come in.” 2 “Pardon this intrusion, I am a traveller in want of a little rest.” 3 “Enter, and I will try in what manner I can relieve your wants; but, unfortunately, my children are from home, and, as I am blind, I am afraid I shall find it difficult to procure food for you.” 4 “Do not trouble yourself, my kind host, I have food; it is warmth and rest only that I need. I am now going to claim the protection of some friends, whom I sincerely love, and of whose favour I have some hopes. I am an unfortunate and deserted creature; I look around, and I have no relation or friend upon earth. These amiable people to whom I go have never seen me, and know little of me. I am full of fears; for if I fail there, I am an outcast in the world for ever.”
5 “Do not despair. To be friendless is indeed to be unfortunate; but the hearts of men are full of brotherly love and charity. Rely, therefore, on your hopes; and if these friends are good and amiable, do not despair.” 6 “They are kind—they are the most excellent creatures in the world; but a fatal prejudice clouds their eyes, and where they ought to see a feeling and kind friend, they behold only a detestable monster.” 7 “That is indeed unfortunate; but if you are really blameless, cannot you undeceive them?” 8 “I am about to undertake that task; and it is on that account that I feel so many overwhelming terrors. I tenderly love these friends; I have, unknown to them, been for many months in the habits of daily kindness towards them; but they believe that I wish to injure them, and it is that prejudice which I wish to overcome.”
9 “Where do these friends reside?” 10 “Near this spot.” 11 “If you will unreservedly confide to me the particulars of your tale, I perhaps may be of use in undeceiving them. I am blind and cannot judge of your countenance, but there is something in your words which persuades me that you are sincere.” 12 “I thank you, and accept your generous offer. You raise me from the dust by this kindness; and I trust that, by your aid, I shall not be driven from the society and sympathy of your fellow-creatures.” 13 “May I know the names and residence of those friends?” 14 "You and your family are the friends whom I seek.”
Which of the following statements describe what the reader learns about the creature’s perspective in the scene where he speaks with the old man?
Yes | No | |
|---|---|---|
The creature wants to be friends with the family he has been watching. | ||
The creature is afraid he will be rejected because of his frightening appearance. | ||
The creature resents his creator for abandoning him instead of nurturing him. |
The creature feels after killing William.
How do you think the story would unfold differently if the creature never happened to find William?
1818 Edition, Volume II, Chapter 8
1 “And now, with the world before me, whither should I bend my steps? I resolved to fly far from the scene of my misfortunes; but to me, hated and despised, every country must be equally horrible. At length the thought of you crossed my mind. I learned from your papers that you were my father, my creator; and to whom could I apply with more fitness than to him who had given me life? You had mentioned Geneva as the name of your native town; and towards this place I resolved to proceed. 2 “But how was I to direct myself? I knew that I must travel in a south-westerly direction to reach my destination; but the sun was my only guide. I did not know the names of the towns that I was to pass through, nor could I ask information from a single human being; but I did not despair. From you only could I hope for succour, although towards you I felt no sentiment but that of hatred. Unfeeling, heartless creator! you had endowed me with perceptions and passions, and then cast me abroad an object for the scorn and horror of mankind. But on you only had I any claim for pity and redress, and from you I determined to seek that justice which I vainly attempted to gain from any other being that wore the human form. 3 “It was evening when I arrived, and I retired to a hiding-place among the fields that surround it, to meditate in what manner I should apply to you. I was oppressed by fatigue and hunger, and far too unhappy to enjoy the gentle breezes of evening, or the prospect of the sun setting behind the stupendous mountains of Jura. 4 “At this time a slight sleep relieved me from the pain of reflection, which was disturbed by the approach of a beautiful child, who came running into the recess I had chosen with all the sportiveness of infancy. Suddenly, as I gazed on him, an idea seized me, that this little creature was unprejudiced, and had lived too short a time to have imbibed a horror of deformity. If, therefore, I could seize him, and educate him as my companion and friend, I should not be so desolate in this peopled earth. 5 “Urged by this impulse, I seized on the boy as he passed, and drew him towards me. As soon as he beheld my form, he placed his hands before his eyes, and uttered a shrill scream: I drew his hand forcibly from his face, and said, ‘Child, what is the meaning of this? I do not intend to hurt you; listen to me.’ 6 “He struggled violently; ‘Let me go,’ he cried; ‘monster! ugly wretch! you wish to eat me, and tear me to pieces—You are an ogre—Let me go, or I will tell my papa.’ 7 “‘Boy, you will never see your father again; you must come with me.’ 8 “‘Hideous monster! let me go. My papa is a Syndic—he is M. Frankenstein—he would punish you. You dare not keep me.’ 9 “‘Frankenstein! you belong then to my enemy—to him towards whom I have sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim.’
10 “The child still struggled, and loaded me with epithets which carried despair to my heart: I grasped his throat to silence him, and in a moment he lay dead at my feet. 11 “I gazed on my victim, and my heart swelled with exultation and hellish triumph: clapping my hands, I exclaimed, ‘I, too, can create desolation; my enemy is not invulnerable; this death will carry despair to him, and a thousand other miseries shall torment and destroy him.’ 12 “As I fixed my eyes on the child, I saw something glittering on his breast. I took it; it was a portrait of a most lovely woman. In spite of my malignity, it softened and attracted me. For a few moments I gazed with delight on her dark eyes, fringed by deep lashes, and her lovely lips; but presently my rage returned: I remembered that I was for ever deprived of the delights that such beautiful creatures could bestow; and that she whose resemblance I contemplated would, in regarding me, have changed that air of divine benignity to one expressive of disgust and despair.
What is the purpose of this passage?
Why does the creature decide to look for Victor? Choose two correct answers.
Put the events in the correct order.
The creature finds a necklace with the picture of a woman.
The creature remembers the name of Victor's city.
The creature tries to take a nap but is awakened by a young boy.
The boy screams and mentions that he is the son of M. Frankenstein.
The creature kills the boy.
When the creature studies the portrait of Victor’s mother in the child’s necklace, what two emotions does he feel and why?