Quote 2: “ Darkness then came over me, and troubled me; but hardly had I felt this, when, by opening my eyes, the light poured in upon me again. I walked, and, I believe, descended; but I presently found a great alteration in my sensations. Before, dark and opaque bodies had surrounded me, impervious to my touch or sight; but I now found that I could wander on at liberty, with no obstacles, which I could not either surmount or avoid. The light became more and more oppressive to me, and the heat wearying me as I walked, I sought a place where I could receive shade.” (99)
This quote encapsulates both light and darkness together. Darkness here symbolizes despair and light represents knowledge and discovery. The monster’s emotions at this point are illustrated deploying dexterous diction. Words such as “obstacles” and “opaque bodies” convince that the monster has been going through a lot pain and suffering through the imagery of obstructions between him and his discovery which he tries to “avoid” and “surmount”. These verbs set a very melancholic mood through out the passage and thus exemplify the deep state of sorrow that the monster is in. The monster also mentions that “ the light became more oppressive” which symbolizes and displays the dark side of knowledge and discovery. The word “oppressive” further connotes and foreshadows the creature’s cruelty and thus, it also brings out the theme of dangerous knowledge presented by Shelly.
Quote 3: “I wept bitterly, and clasping my hands in agony, I exclaimed, “Oh! Stars and clouds and winds, ye are all about to mock me; if ye really pity me, crush sensation and memory; let me become as nought; but if not, depart, depart, and leave me in darkness.” (151)
The monster portrays his remorse and is disgusted of his own existence. Light imagery like “stars” contrasts with dark imagery such as “agony” to create confusion which replicates the confusion experienced by the monster itself. Shelly implements personification as a tool to induce sympathy towards the monster. “Stars and clouds and winds…. mock me” to give them human characteristics so as to create a dramatic effect, making the reader “really pity” the monster. The theme of nature’s sublimity, the link between human moods and natural environment, is brought out through the monster’s emotions. The lack of interaction between the monster and humans adds to the monster’s pitiable lack of social identity. Shelly also explores the theme of self-pity by using repetition and dark imagery. The monster’s sympathy is exemplified as he says “depart, depart, and leave” him “in darkness”, thus emphasizing and revealing that deprivation of human contact makes way to destruction through dark imagery.
Quote 4: “I trembled and my heart failed within me, when, on looking up, I saw by the light of the moon the demon at the window. A ghastly grin wrinkled his lips as he gazed on me. He had indeed followed me in my travels, and he now came to mark my progress and claim the fulfillment of my promise.” (114)
This quote encases the emotions of Victor Frankenstein when he sees the monster. The emphasis Shelly puts on the word “failed” to show Victor Frankenstein’s failure of unlocking the secret of life. Diction in this quote aids to bring out the inner feelings of Victor Frankenstein towards the monster. Dark imagery, among which, the alliteration of “ghastly grin…gazed” describes Victor Frankenstein’s point of view of the monster. He describes it as cruel and grim, which creates sympathy towards the monster. The contrast between light and darkness is once again presented here by juxtaposing “light of the moon” next to “the demon”. This juxtaposition of two opposites ideas reveals the theme of the dark side of light, that is, too much knowledge could prove to be dangerous.
Quote 5: “I cherished hope, it is true; but it vanished when I beheld my person reflected in water, or my shadow in the moonshine, even as that frail image and that inconstant shade. I endeavored to crush these fears, and to fortify myself for the trial which in a few months I resolved to undergo; and sometimes I allowed my thoughts, unchecked by reason, to ramble in the fields of Paradise, and dared to fancy amiable and lovely creatures sympathizing with my feelings, and cheering my gloom; their angelic countenances breathed smiles of consolation.”
The monster’s innermost thoughts are greatly emphasized by the contrast between light and darkness, and how the family is a ray of light for him. He envisions approaching them soon and hoping that they would reciprocate with their “angelic countenance”, thus light symbolizing hope and darkness symbolizing despair. Religious references, such as the “fields of Paradise”, the monster refers to the family as Heaven. The repetition of the words starting with ‘f’ creates a hopeless mood. For example, the use of “fears” and “fortify” overpower the light presented in this passage. The monster feels hope, but when he beholds himself in water or sees his shadow, his hope vanishes, and he is left in doubt about what he plans to do. He tries “to crush these fears” and hopes to conquer his despair. The monster shows forethought when he sees his “reflection in water” and decides that there’s very little chance of the De Lacey family interacting with him. His reflection also brings out the theme of self-pity presented in the book. His “shadow is the moonshine” and “reflection in the water” insinuate and symbolize that light is knowledge but too much knowledge gives way to destruction, as the monster is disgusted of himself by the that the light showed him.
Thematic Statement: In Mary Shelly’ Frankenstein, the monster’s experiences in his first year of life emphasize that the light that shows the path towards good and knowledge is replaced by darkness and despair. This is portrayed through the creature’s hope of interacting with De Lacey family and him reflecting on his appearance shown by light.
