Kelley 1

Danielle Kelley

British Literature

Period 1

March 14, 2017

Beauty, Or Beast?

Although Frankenstein by Mary Shelley was originally penned in the nineteenth century,

the tale is still very intriguing and controversial two centuries later. Victor Frankenstein may

have physically created his creature, but who helps structure the creature into the man he

becomes? Paradise Lost, the Delacy family, Victor, and social rejection are responsible for

making a monster out of a unique creature.

The Delacy family was the first real family that the creature encounters, which leads to

the Delacys being one of the most powerful influences early in the creature's life. The creature

learns some of the most important things from the Delacys, including language. The creature

did not comprehend[Safie] was endeavoring to learn [the Delacys] language; and the idea

instantly occurred to [the creature] that [he] should make use of the same instructions to [learn

this language with her] (Shelley 105). The creature begins to gain a self confidence with this

new family after he gains language from them. The creature begins to build a trust upon the

family when he begins to call them his protectors; he loves the fact that he feels he is a part of

a family in an innocent, half painful self-deceit, way (Shelley 109). Once the creature finally

builds up the courage to show his face to the family and speak to them the creature states that

[Felix] dashed me to the ground and struck me violently with a stickmy heart sunk bitterness

and I refrained [from ripping Felix limb by limb] (122). The creature feels as though no one will

ever accept him, once his so called protectors treat him as though he is a monster, incapable of
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compassion and love. Although physical human contact is a huge part of shaping the creature,

other sources seem to impact him as well.

Reading books and articles such as Paradise Lost make an impact on the creature in

breathtaking ways. While reading paradise lost, the being states that he ought to be Adam; But

[he is] rather the fallen angel, who; whom thou drivers from Joy for no misdeed. Everywhere I

see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and a good; misery

made me a fiend meaning, that he should just be the first of his kind, but is actually treated as an

evil outcast. After he decides to become Satan, just as how people treat him, he realizes one

crucial detail that sets him and Satan apart from each other. The creature specifically tells the

reader: Satan had his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am solitary

and abhorred (118). In paradise lost, it states did I request thee, maker, from my clay to mould

me man, did I solicit thee from darkness promote me? Which helps the reader make a

connection with the creature and his feelings, (paradise lost, X, 743,745). By being showed that

he is never going to be capable of having a real connection, and knowing that even Satan has

companions, he becomes instantly more lonely than ever. The creature's sense of wretchedness,

self doubt and isolation all are a key factor to creating a monster out of a beautiful being.

In his time of social isolation and categorizing as an outcast, the creature had only one

person to blame. His creator, Victor Frankenstein had loved the idea of his creature, only to

abandon his creature since the day he was animated. While Victor is still in his honeymoon phase

of creating his being, he states that wealth is an inferior object; but what glory would attend the

discovery, if I could banish disease from the human frame, and render man invulnerable to any

but a violent death meaning that he is mainly excited to share his discovery with the world, just

because fame is promised in return (26). After the animation of the creature, Victor envisions the
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creature attacking him. He describes this by stating "I, putting my hands before my eyes, for I

thought I saw the dreaded spectre glide into the room; he can tell. Oh, save me! Save me! I

imagined that the monster seized me; I struggled furiously, and fell down in a fit (47). Victors

fear of his creatures power leads him to not only abandon his creature, but treat him as though he

will only do the awful deeds he is capable of doing, while neglecting the good in him. In parents

to lash out at children consistent brains, researchers say by Alfred Lubrano, a young man named

Dave tells the interviewer my over-disciplining, yelling, cursing mother ripped me apart My

mother would always tell me I never amount to anything...I was depressed which creates a

similarity between him, and the creature (15-18). This similarity is that the two of these men

have so much potential, yet they are shot down socially, and shown that they are incapable of

certain things, which forms a major sense of self doubt in either of their minds.

The creature may have turned out very loving and caring, if only he would have been

accepted. Paradise Lost, the Delacy family, Victor, and social rejection are at fault for

constructing a beast out of a unique and loving creature. Victor only loves the idea of the fame

that is promised to come along with his discovery, yet once

he sees his creature animate, he flees. The Delacy family loves him until they physically

see him, and abuses him for the monster he appears to be. All the whilst reading Paradise Lost,

along with his self doubt, is a major drop in positivity, especially when he is associating himself

with Satan rather than Adam. Provided that if everyone were to accept the creature rather than

run away screaming, would he actually be the Adam of his kind?

Works cited

Lubrano, Alfred parents who lash out at children stunt brains, researchers say

philidelphia inquirer on 12.19.13

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Milton, John Paradise lost 1667 text

Shelley, Mary "Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus : The 1818 Text." Direct

Textbook. 16 Mar. 2017.