2.2.1

The Monster

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The Monster

The Monster is initially presented to the reader from the perspective of Victor Frankenstein (as his creator).

Victor's perspective

Victor's perspective

  • Victor's narrative, full of horror and disgust at the "fiend" he has built, instantly prejudices the reader against the creature.
  • We are later informed he has killed William Frankenstein and framed Justine Moritz for the murder of the child.
The Monster's perspective

The Monster's perspective

  • However, Shelley’s multi-layered narrative allows the reader to experience the Monster’s own perspective, which exposes a story of vulnerability, isolation and misery.
  • From its ‘birth’ in the dingy laboratory of Frankenstein, the creature is exiled into a cruel, hostile world.
Innate goodness

Innate goodness

  • The Monster's alterity (difference from others) juxtaposes greatly with its childlike innocence.
  • The Monster seems to have innate goodness at heart (see Rousseau and Locke) which is eventually corrupted and eroded away by the treatment the Monster receives in society.
  • "I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend."
The De Laceys

The De Laceys

  • After secretly watching the De Lacey family and learning to read and write, the Monster learns what it is to be human from great works of fiction and nonfiction.
  • He decides to speak to the De Lacey family but is rejected by them, as they are terrified by his grotesque form.
Revenge

Revenge

  • In anger and sadness, he burns down their house after they flee for safety.
  • He then goes on a terrifying journey of revenge, wreaking havoc and chaos in order to make his maker, Victor, suffer the consequences of his actions: "You are my creator, but I am your master; - obey!"

The Monster

Victor reneges on his promise to make a female creature, destroying the parts of the body he had already crafted. The creature vows to take revenge.

Revenge

Revenge

  • After Victor goes back on his promise, the creature becomes incandescent with rage and vows to "be with (him) on his wedding night".
  • This threat is taken by Victor to be aimed solely at him and is stunned when he is arrested for the death of Clerval, who has died at the hands of the Monster too.
The wedding

The wedding

  • Being cleared of the offence, Victor returns back to Geneva to marry Elizabeth. However, soon after his nuptials, he realises that his wife is the intended victim of the Monster, who is exacting the same revenge upon Victor that he had to suffer:
  • "Shall each man… find a wife for his bosom, and each beast have his mate, and I be alone?"
Further deaths

Further deaths

  • After Elizabeth’s death, Alphonse Frankenstein dies of a broken heart and the Monster and Victor are locked in a cat and mouse game across the Arctic.
  • Walton is the last one to talk to the Monster, who he finds mourning over the body of Victor then fleeing off into the desolate realms of the Arctic.
Jump to other topics
1

Narrative Structure

1.1

Narrative Structure

1.1.1Narrative Structure1.1.2Narrative Distancing1.1.3End of Topic Test - Narrative Structure
2

Character Summaries

2.1

Walton & Frankenstein

2.1.1Walton2.1.2Victor Frankenstein2.1.3End of Topic Test - Walton & Frankenstein
2.2

The Monster

2.2.1The Monster2.2.2The Monster 22.2.3End of Topic Test - The Monster
2.3

Elizabeth, Justine & Henry

2.3.1Elizabeth Lavenza2.3.2Justine Moritz2.3.3Henry Clerval2.3.4End of Topic Test - Elizabeth, Justine & Henry
2.4

Families & Other Characters

2.4.1The Frankenstein Family2.4.2The De Lacey Family2.4.3Other Characters2.4.4End of Topic Test - Families & Other Characters
3

Intertextuality & Allusions

3.1

Intertextual References

3.1.1The Modern Prometheus3.1.2The Rime of the Ancient Mariner3.1.3The Bible3.1.4Mutability & Tintern Abbey3.1.5End of Topic Test - Intertextual References
3.2

Philosophical & Scientific Theories

3.2.1Edmund Burke3.2.2Thomas Paine3.2.3John Locke3.2.4Jean-Jacques Rousseau3.2.5Historical Figures3.2.6End of Topic Test - Philosophy & Science Theories
4

Biographic Context

4.1

Biographic Context

4.1.1Shelley's Parents4.1.2Loss & Maternal Anxiety4.1.3Literary Legend4.1.4End of Topic Test - Biographical Context
5

Chapter Summaries

5.1

Letters

5.1.1Letters 1 & 25.1.2Letters 3 & 45.1.3End of Topic Test - Letters
5.2

Chapters

5.2.1Chapters 1-25.2.2Chapters 3-45.2.3Chapters 5-65.2.4Chapters 7-95.2.5Chapters 10-115.2.6Chapters 12-155.2.7Chapters 16-195.2.8Chapters 20-235.2.9Chapter 24 & Walton’s Last Letters5.2.10End of Topic Test - Chapters 1-65.2.11End of Topic Test - Chapters 7-155.2.12End of Topic Test - Chapters 16-235.2.13End of Topic Test - Chapter 24 & Walton's Letters
6

Key Themes

6.1

Key Themes

6.1.1Curiosity & Knowledge6.1.2Science & Society6.1.3Loss & Companionship6.1.4Connection to Nature6.1.5Injustice
6.2

Key Locations

6.2.1Extreme Landscapes6.2.2Industrialised University Cities6.2.3End of Topic Test - Key Themes & Locations
7

Recap: Main Quotes

7.1

Characters Quotes

7.1.1Walton - Quotations7.1.2Victor Frankenstein - Quotations7.1.3The Monster - Quotations7.1.4The Educational Texts - Quotations7.1.5Elizabeth Lavenza - Quotations7.1.6Justine Moritz - Quotations7.1.7Henry Clerval - Quotations7.1.8Alphonse Frankenstein - Quotations7.1.9The De Lacey Family - Quotations
7.2

Quotes by Chapters

7.2.1Letters 1 & 2 - Quotations7.2.2Letters 3 & 4 - Quotations7.2.3Chapters 1-6 - Quotations7.2.4Chapters 7-13 - Quotations7.2.5Chapters 14-20 - Quotations7.2.6Chapters 21-24 & Waton's Last Letters - Quotations

Practice questions on The Monster

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    From whose perspective do learn of the Monster's misery?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    Which of these are true of the Monster?True / false
  3. 3
    What does the Monster vow to do after Victor refuses to build a female companion?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Whose body is the Monster mourning over when Walton finds him?Multiple choice
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End of Topic Test - Walton & Frankenstein

The Monster 2