Frankenstein #4

Throughout the course of the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the Monster learns how to be a human. The monster learns the simple ideas of the fact that there are different types of people in this world. "Other lessons were impressed upon me even more deeply. I heard of the difference of sexes and the birth and growth of children" (Shelley, 85). From the De Lacey family, the Monster learns most of what it is like to be a part of society. Through listening to their conversations and watching their daily movements, he learns to speak and become more a part of society. The Monster also learns how to love through observing the family. He learns of the love and acceptance that he deserves but does not receive. Ironically, everything that the Monster learns from the De Lacey family is learned through observations. The Monster does not even have the courage to approach the man until later into the novel. The Monster learns to be a part of society through the side characters that surround him throughout the course of the novel.

Frankenstein #3

In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the idea of a female monster is brought up. The female monster means different things to different characters. To the monster, the female monster is going to be his companion. In the Monster's eyes, the female monster will be the only other person on the earth that is just like him. The female monster will break the isolation that the monster is living with. The female monster will also be someone that is inferior to the Monster in the Monster's eyes. The female monster will have to learn just as the Monster did and the Monster feels as though he will have a purpose in life. His purpose will be to help the female monster. Along with the monster, Victor also had a view for the female monster. Unfortunately, Victor had a more pessimistic view of creating a female monster. "I was now about to form another being, of whose dispositions I was alike ignorant; she might become ten thousand times more malignant than her mate" (Shelley, 120). Victor believes that a mate is necessary for the monster. Although he believes this, he is afraid of creating another monster that could be potentially more dangerous than the monster that he first created.

Frankenstein #2

In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the creature finally gets the courage to approach De Lacy and the other people living in the cabin. During this scene, we get a good glance into the true personality of the monster. In this part of the novel, the reader learns that De Lacy is blind. Since De Lacy is blind, he looks at the monster with a perspective that is new to the monster. De Lacy is able to listen to the Monster without being terrified of his appearances. For the first time, the monster is able to express his true feelings and emotions. "I am a unfortunate and deserted creature; I look around, and I have no relation or friend on earth" (Shelley, 95). The Monster is quickly judged by a blind man. The Monster is judged for his personality versus his appearance. For the first time, the Monster has made a friend; a companion. Unfortunately, the first good thing that has happened to the Monster is taken away when he is faced with the family of De Lacy. Sometimes, as in the novel, it takes a new perspective to see past the appearance and see the personality of the person. 

Frankenstein #1

In chapter 13 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the creature realizes his true identity. Thus far in the novel, the monster had known that he was unlike the other creatures. But, until this point in the novel, he had not truly admitted his differences to himself. At this point, the creature sees a reflection of himself and his reaction is how he believes others see him. "Was I then a monster, a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled and whom all men disowned" (Shelley, 85). The monster has finally come to the realization that not only is he different from everyone else, but he is alone. He finally understands that he has no one that he can rely on. The people that he is counting as they people that are there for him do not even know that he exists. His lack of speech and social skills also help in leading him to his isolation. The monster is now ready to overcome his differences with society in order to overcome his isolation.

Family

In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, family plays in essential role in the characters. Throughout the course of the novel, we get a glimpse into the families of both Walter and Victor. It is obvious by reading the first few pages of the novel that Walter and his sister have some kind of relationship. The beginning of the novel is all letters from Walter to his sister. We also see a glimpse into Victor's family when it talks about leaving Geneva in chapter three. "When I had attained the age of seventeen, my parents resolved, that I should become a student at the university of Ingolstadt" (Shelley, 23). As we read the novel, we learn that family was present in the lives of both of the two main characters. Both of the characters grew up surrounded by people who truly cared about them and their wellbeing. The ironic thing that I noticed was that neither of them were isolated until they began exploring and studying. The exploration lead them to isolation and seperated them from their families and loved ones and broke the relationships that had been formed for years. 

Acceptance

In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, we learn that all the monster wants throughout the novel is to be accepted. We first see this at the beginning of the novel when he goes and finds Frankenstein in bed. Frankenstein thought that he was going to attack him, but really he was just looking for love and acceptance. He reached out his hands just like a child would to his or her parents. As we read on in the novel, we see many more circumstances where the monster just wants to be accepted. The monster goes on a trip trying to find the one who had created him. In this part of the novel, we especially see the monster going out of his way to get acceptance from the one person who was suppose to love his unconditionally. The search for acceptance is truly shown in chapter twelve when the creature describes a dream of his. "I imagined that they would be disgusted, until, by my gentle demeanor and conciliating words, I should first win their favor, and afterwords their love" (Shelley, 81). In this scene, we learn that the creature realizes that his appearance makes it difficult for others to love and accept him. At the end though, he realizes that if he truly tries with everything he has that will win their love and acceptance with time. 

Justice and Justine

In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the family seeks justice following the murder of William. I think that it is no coincidence between the word Justice and Justine. Justine is wanted to be seen as the innocent one by the family. The family does not want Justine to be seen as a murder or to end up being the murderer of William. Elizabeth especially does not want Justine to end up being the murderer of William. In fact, Elizabeth hopes that nothing ever happens to the murderer of William. In the novel, Elizabeth talks about how often times getting justice just makes the situation worse for all people. The novel talks about how Elizabeth's life was impacted by the murder of William. "Elizabeth was sad and desponding; she no longer took delight in her ordinary occupations; all pleasure seemed toward the dead" (Shelley 63). Elizabeth began to believe that if justice came about at a later time that it would just reopen the wounds of William's murder. There is no coincidence in the novel between Justice and Justine, the person no one wants to be guilty.