This horrifying image was the base for the whole novel. Her husband immediately encouraged her to try and continue the story, and thus Frankenstein was born.
Despite the many immoral and wicked acts the monster commits, we can sympathise with him at several points during the novel. Although the monster perpetrates many ‘unforgivable’ crimes, we find a need to sympathise with him, because what he has already suffered in his short life. Most of the evil acts the monster perpetrates are in revenge for his suffering, or are completely accidental, like for example the death of Justine in Chapter 8.
In Chapter 5 the monster is described by his creator, Frankenstein, as a ‘wretch: -
‘How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form?’
The monster is hated from the beginning of his existence. This neglect, which continues throughout the novel, is the main reason the monster resorts to violence so much in the novel. Victor assumes, along with most people in the novel, that because the monster is hideous in appearance it must only be capable of evil. This helps create an initial sympathy for the creature from the reader, because the one person responsible for it rejects it. We find out later in the novel that Victor’s immediate hatred and disgust for the monster is unfounded, and that the monster is an intelligent being, and deserves to be treated the same, regardless of appearance. When we read chapters 11 and 12 we see that the monster is just as vulnerable as anyone else, and we see that Victor’s actions in chapter 5 are wrong. When we read these chapters we see the monsters point of view, and we sympathise with him because of the way he has been treated by not just his creator, but by society itself.
After the monster is rejected, he wanders for a while, before finding a small hovel to live in. Nearby there is a family, called the De Lacey’s. The monster studies the family from the hovel, only venturing out at night, to scavenge for food. He discovers that the oldest member of the family, named as De Lacey, is blind. The monster hopes he can build a friendship with the old man and be accepted by the rest of the family. Things do not go well for the monster, and just as he gets into conversation with the old man, Felix, the son of De Lacey walks in and sees him. He is, yet again judged on appearance, and it is assumed by Felix that he must be there to harm his father. Therefore, on instinct Felix attacks: -
‘Felix darted forward, and with supernatural force tore me from his father, to whose knees I clung: in a transport of fury, he dashed me to the ground, and struck me violently with a stick.’
Again the monster has suffered cruelty, and been cast out of society as a reject. At this point in the novel we are very sympathetic to the monster, which seems to be alone in the world, with no one to care for his needs, even a conversation with another being.
We now see that the monster is aware of his difference, his ‘monstrosity’, from observing the De Lacey’s. He knows he is different and it is proven to him on the entrance of Felix and the others, on their entrance into the house.
‘Who can describe their horror and consternation on beholding me?’
He resists going back and seeking revenge on the villagers, but from now on in the novel the monster is a lot more ‘ruthless’ and is not afraid to use his appearance and strength to avenge his creation.
When the monster takes his first victim we tend to feel sorry for Victor and his family, due to the tragic loss of their brother, but if we think about it a bit more we realise that the monster is not as liable for his death as we first think. The first victim of the monster is Victor’s brother, William. The monster sees him in the woods and grabs him, intending to befriend the boy, and teach him to love the monster for who he really is.
‘Suddenly, as I gazed on him, an idea seized me, that this little creature was unprejudiced, and had lived too short a time to have imbibed a horror of deformity. If, therefore, I could seize him, and educate him as my companion and friend, I should not be so desolate in this peopled earth.’
Once again the monsters plan fails, and the boy proceeds to struggle against him.
‘Hideous monster! let me go. My father is a Syndic – he is M.Frankenstein – he will punish you. You dare not keep me.’
This angers the monster so greatly that he kills the child. He finally feels he has had some revenge for his creation and his rejection.
‘I gazed on my victim, and my heart swelled with exultation and hellish triumph; clapping my hands I exclaimed, “I too can create desolation; my enemy is not invulnerable; this death will carry despair to him, and a thousand other miseries shall torment and destroy him.”’
I think we can excuse the monster for this behaviour, for everything he has suffered, in his life. William, to the monster was just like all the other people, prejudiced. The monster has discovered revenge, and this is the main turning point in the novel. After this the monster doesn’t think twice about merciful, he is determined to make Frankenstein’s life hell, just as he has done for the monster. He wants him to feel what desolation is like, and show Victor what he has put the monster through.
We soon switch our anger from the monster to Victor. Even though he suspects the monster of killing William he says nothing to his family, therefore he contributes to the death of Justine, Who is executed, for the murder of William.
In Chapter 10 the monster and Frankenstein. This is where we see the monster’s side of the story, and where our sympathy is concentrated on the monster, due to his narration of his sad story. After the monster has told Victor his side of the story he asks for a mate to be made for himself, a being for him to be with, talk with etc. Frankenstein at first refuses, repulsed at the thought of repeating his terrible deed. The monster with his eloquence persuades Victor, and we feel for the monster. Frankenstein goes back to Geneva to start this project, but in Chapter 20, when Victor finally begins his work he comes face to face with the monster, and it reminds him of the ‘monstrosity’ he has created. He refuses to build the female, and the monster once again swears his revenge on Victor.
‘It is well, I go; but remember, I shall be with you on your wedding-night.’
These words are to shape the end of the novel for Victor and the monster.
On his wedding night, Victor sends Elizabeth off while he waits for the monster to come for him. He then hears the scream of Elizabeth, and he realises that the monster meant he would kill his bride, not him. Shortly afterwards Victor returns home, but his father dies of grief. He has also lost Clerval, to the monster’s wrath. He swears to exact his revenge and pursues the monster. He nearly catches the monster, but a split in the ice separates them, and the monster gets away. Victor is then taken on board a ship, by Walton.The last time the two meet, creator and creation on board the ship. The monster feels he has finally got his revenge, and he jumps from the ship, soon to die.
‘He sprang from the cabin-window, as he said this, upon the ice-raft which lay close to the vessel. He was soon borne away by the waves, and lost in darkness and distance.’