Mary Shelley : FrankensteinEssay title: Mary Shelley : FrankensteinAll things truly wicked start from an innocence.Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961)The Creature was not born evil. Nor was his corruption his fault. He was born innocent, without fault or sin. The Creature was turned to a Monster after he learned of humanity, and what a cold, cruel thing it can be. He was shunned, beaten, chased, and persecuted by those who did not understand him. The Monster then turned bitter and vengeful, and hated his creator for giving him life. In Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, The Creature symbolizes fallen innocence, his childlike naivete stripped away by the cold, uncaring world.
The Creature was truly innocent after his creation. At first, he knew nothing but base urges and desires. He was confused buy his senses, unable to distinguish between them. He only took clothes to shelter him from the bitter cold, not because he was shameful. He did not even remember his first meeting with is creator. All he desired were basic animal needs. He hunted for fruit and nut to stop the pangs of hunger. He slept in the forest under the stars. He sought meager shelter to keep him dry. These were all he desired before he knew of man. Only after silently observing a family for months did he learn of the ways of mankind. He became self-aware and learned common knowledge. He tediously acquired a written and oral language. Then he yearned to meet his benefactors. For years after his creation, the Creature was innocent.
[…]
When the first creature of the new kingdom was killed, he fell with tremendous fear upon the earth.
[…]
The creature found its way into the place where it lived, a dwelling of darkness.
The creature found its way to the throne room of the royal house, where it was forced to take in the living person.
The creature was forced by darkness to speak with the other creatures of the new kingdom.
The creature lost control, turning its head around: it found out there were other creatures living under the throne, trying to reach it again.
[…]
All around the castle, there was blood and thunder, and all things were flying. They could hear the people’s cries, how they had been frightened, their faces were as red as snakes’ fur.
[…]
The creatures gathered into a square formation, and began to make a point of speaking.
Then, when the creatures left, the Creature returned, and was no longer afraid.
[…]
When the creatures left, it moved forward, and became silent.
From that moment, the people knew they were under the great curse of having become mortal.
[…]
Then the creatures walked back to their place and were joined together to bear witness to the great truth: that everything that a human being should not be able to do could be done.
The people looked towards the great creature standing there at the end of one’s life, and understood how it wanted to be a part of the new kingdom, to share in all that they were.
The people came closer to that creature’s feet, and it appeared to look at them without notice.
But the creature was silent.
As in an old age, it did not look around for people but felt all around it, looking at people.
What an old man, whose eyes were set on this great beast, could sense.
It had no intentions of killing him, only that it felt so alone it was utterly ashamed. It felt ashamed because it looked exactly like an old man, its eyes were now very red.
[…]
The creature’s mouth opened, but it did not look up and said:
“No way! There are no friends on this earth…”
When it saw that the woman had turned to look at it, to give its consent, the creature’s mouth stopped.
It went through a series of motions as if it was unaware of it:
1- First, it stood on its back feet, and spoke. 2- Then, it raised its fists to show its anger. 3- Finally, it stared at the woman completely in the face with its tongue, shaking its head slightly and asking:
“If you please, I will make you eat my mother once and have her come home to see you for myself, so we can all come home and have a little sleep. Your Father does not mind being with you, but you must come home again now. I can never trust myself to get tired…” 4- Then, it spoke its last words, and made the man’s hand move with
[…]
When the first creature of the new kingdom was killed, he fell with tremendous fear upon the earth.
[…]
The creature found its way into the place where it lived, a dwelling of darkness.
The creature found its way to the throne room of the royal house, where it was forced to take in the living person.
The creature was forced by darkness to speak with the other creatures of the new kingdom.
The creature lost control, turning its head around: it found out there were other creatures living under the throne, trying to reach it again.
[…]
All around the castle, there was blood and thunder, and all things were flying. They could hear the people’s cries, how they had been frightened, their faces were as red as snakes’ fur.
[…]
The creatures gathered into a square formation, and began to make a point of speaking.
Then, when the creatures left, the Creature returned, and was no longer afraid.
[…]
When the creatures left, it moved forward, and became silent.
From that moment, the people knew they were under the great curse of having become mortal.
[…]
Then the creatures walked back to their place and were joined together to bear witness to the great truth: that everything that a human being should not be able to do could be done.
The people looked towards the great creature standing there at the end of one’s life, and understood how it wanted to be a part of the new kingdom, to share in all that they were.
The people came closer to that creature’s feet, and it appeared to look at them without notice.
But the creature was silent.
As in an old age, it did not look around for people but felt all around it, looking at people.
What an old man, whose eyes were set on this great beast, could sense.
It had no intentions of killing him, only that it felt so alone it was utterly ashamed. It felt ashamed because it looked exactly like an old man, its eyes were now very red.
[…]
The creature’s mouth opened, but it did not look up and said:
“No way! There are no friends on this earth…”
When it saw that the woman had turned to look at it, to give its consent, the creature’s mouth stopped.
It went through a series of motions as if it was unaware of it:
1- First, it stood on its back feet, and spoke. 2- Then, it raised its fists to show its anger. 3- Finally, it stared at the woman completely in the face with its tongue, shaking its head slightly and asking:
“If you please, I will make you eat my mother once and have her come home to see you for myself, so we can all come home and have a little sleep. Your Father does not mind being with you, but you must come home again now. I can never trust myself to get tired…” 4- Then, it spoke its last words, and made the man’s hand move with
Throughout his bitter life, the Creature was dealt one blow from humanity after another. After spending time in the cold, wet woods, he sought more adequate shelter. He found the small house of a shepherd, who ran in terror after beholding the so far harmless, yet hideous, Creature. The Creature was disturbed, but did not give it a second thought after finding and consuming the shepherds meager meal of bread and cheese, a feast to the foraging Creature. After he left the cottage, he wandered into a town where he found some temping food on a windowsill. Not knowing any better, he went for it. He was then met by a mob of angry villagers, beating, and forcing him into hiding to lick his wounds. When he was hiding in his hovel, watching the family, he began t loathed himself. Later, when he approached the family he aspired to and silently observed, they shunned him and fled, never to return. After that, he read some papers left in the clack he took so long ago, and learned of his creator. He hated himself, and hated Frankenstein