The perspective of the monster is rarely seen in fiction. In the novel Frankenstein however, the audience is able to glimpse into the torturous path the monster was forced to experience due to his hideous appearance and subsequent abandonment. Bearing witness to the life of the monster over the course of the second volume of the novel, the reader has to question the legitimacy of calling Frankenstein’s creation a monstrosity, as the monster’s intentions are humane and motivations are as flawed as that of his creator.
Under the initial impressions of Victor Frankenstein, the audience is forced to believe during the first volume that the monster is an uncivilized barbarian that aspires to brutalizes everything Victor has come to love. The first true appearance of the monster, in contrast, portrays him in a completely different light. The monster clearly states that, due to the way his creator had made him, he is “more powerful than thyself (Frankenstein)”, and “joints more supple” (chapter 10), therefore in a clear advantage to use brute strength. However, the creature instead resolves to use calm sentiments, and uses alternations between long and short sentences and formal way of speech to pacify his aggressive and vengeful creator, urging him to “hear my (the creature’s) tale” where he lives within the mountains. Even in a situation that clearly favors him, the creature does not take advantage Victor and takes him to a place where he could more comfortably hear the creature’s journey. The monster’s humane qualities are further emphasized by the fire that burns in his residence, an object that has since the beginning of time separated the hordes of animals from the humans and the ingenuity they had come to possess. These actions represent just how misfortunate the monster truly is, and at the same time how virtuous he is to even those that wrong him. His eloquent way of speech makes him more akin to a gentleman than a barbarian for the readers who do not have to gaze upon his countenance, in a circumstance ironically similar to the blind De Lacey.
The tale which the creature tells to his master is shown to be that of endless toil, patience, and misfortune. Even as he speaks of the various instances in which regular men had come to shun him or at times repay him with the blackest ingratitude, the monster’s diction reveals no grudge, but only regret and lament over his physical disabilities. His spiritual and intellectual understanding of the world is revealed to have been derived from the novel Paradise Lost, which he “continually studied and exercised... as history” (chapter 15). The novel Paradise Lost, and what the creature comes to learn from it signify a fundamental part of his ideology. Paradise Lost signifies the ideal that god has given significant freedom of will towards Adam and Eve, therefore the freedom to fail in instruction, and were accordingly banished from paradise. This initial concept is followed by the monster within his tale, where he describes his multiple attempts to integrate into society by being a boon to nearby men. Perhaps more significantly, the monster, without proper guidance, comes to feel sympathy towards the seductive Satan, the spirit that rebels against god, whom, in the monster’s eyes, seems to resemble his irresponsible master. This particular description gives a striking parallel between Satan and the creature who have both been discarded by by the gods who felt that their creations were unfit for their seemingly perfect world. By giving the creature a hideous body, Shelley paints the creature with the image of Satan, but makes it clear with the monster’s pained yet restrained expression that he would have preferred to have been born as Adam. Perhaps unconsciously with the “bitter gall of envy” (chapter 15) towards the more fortunate creation, the monster demands his creator to make him a mate equally hideous as the monster.
The smooth and cordial diction of the monster sees a shift in tone in chapter 17 when he begins to demand from Victor a female counterpart to ease his woes against the world. Although his tone continues to be sophisticated, the malignant nature of the creature begins to slowly reveal themselves as he calls Frankenstein his “archenemy”, and proceeds to even threaten vengeance against his creator if his request is not completed, declaring ”inextinguishable hatred” and promising to “desolate his (Frankenstein’s) heart.” The volatile and destructive tone of the creature’s diction creates a new revelation upon the characteristics of the monster to both Victor and the readers. As humane and sympathetic as the monster may be, it simply cannot be ignored that his very existence is a threat to humanity’s authority in a manner that is identical to the manner in which Victor Frankenstein defied god’s authority by breathing life into the lifeless. The monster may have been satisfied with the new mate that Victor could have bestowed upon him, but the creation of another monster would have further violated the law of nature and therefore challenged the authority of mankind, just like how the seemingly affable monster had harmed Victor by murdering William and framing Justine.
Shelley, through the usage of eloquent dialogue, severe shifts of tone and brilliant analogy of description, paints a complicated picture of the monster, one who, despite its sins, is affable, virtuous, intelligent, but ultimately dangerous to humanity. Its characteristics allow the readers to empathize with a seemingly horrendous monster, cementing the hardships it has gone through, but affirming how its very existence defiles nature and help understand why Victor Frankenstein would attempt to destroy it despite knowing what perils would await him at that path.
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