The monster has murdered William and Victor Frankenstein is mountain climbing hoping to obtain consolation from nature. As Frankenstein climbs the mountain, the monster appears in the distance and begins to speak to him. In this passage, the monster is reminds Frankenstein of his duties as a creator.
With an eloquent, yet short and persuasive speech, the monster pleads for justice. This short speech evokes feelings of compassion and pity for the monster. He says that he will be gentle, but he does not want to be the only one who Frankenstein tramples on in injustice. Mary Shelley repeatedly uses allusions to Adam and the fallen angel (Lucifer/Satan) throughout Frankenstein. When the monster mentions Adam, he is referring to the story of creation in Genesis, the first book of the Bible. God, Adam�s creator, fulfills his duties; he protects Adam and gives him knowledge, a place to live, food, and eventually a wife also. Instead of Frankenstein providing for his creation, he abandons him. Frankenstein has driven the monster away from joy like the fallen angel (Lucifer/Satan) was driven away from the joys of heaven.
In this passage, Shelley portrays the monster as being more humane than his creator. The monsters comment about his rejection is a Romantic concept of the fallen state of man that Shelley brings out. In this commen, Shelley addresses one of the chief concerns of the Romantics � the relationship between man as a divine being and the Creator as a divine entity. However, Shelley reverses the Romantic concept; instead of the creator banishing his creation after he had been taught, he banishes his creation in curses as God banished the fallen angel. The monster had not even violated a law; Frankenstein�s rejection was unreasonable.
Most Romantic writers would incorporate strange and unusual elements into their works. The abhorrent creature being more humane than the human exemplifies the unusual. Shelley also addresses emotion in this passage; the monster�s emotional plea arouses sympathy for the monster. Shelley addresses many Romantic issues in her writing, but she would often put her own twist on the ideas. |
