Frankenstein Essay

Ava McNevin

3/30/15

English 9H

period.3
Frankenstein
Essay

In the novel
Frankenstein
, by Mary Shelley, the creation’s capability to be good is illustrated throughout the entire novel. The creature displays his ability to be good at the beginning of the novel. Once he starts to experience the negative actions of human beings and the way that they respond towards him, he becomes miserable and develops a very strong hatred towards human beings. This is what turns him into the monster everyone assumed him to be.
Throughout the novel
Frankenstein
, by Mary Shelley, there are several instances where the creation tries to be good but it ends up backfiring on him. One of these instances is when the creation risks his own life to save the life of a little girl who is drowning, “When suddenly her foot slipped, and she fell into the rapid stream. I rushed from my hidingplace; and, with extreme labour from the force of the current, saved her, and dragged her to shore.” This quote is showing that the creation is automatically rushing to go save the little girl, instead of letting her drown. When the creation is saving the little girl a man comes out and, “When the man saw me draw near, he aimed a gun, which he carried, at my body, and fired. I sunk to the ground, and my injurer, with increased swiftness, escaped into the woods.” (120121). These quotes illustrate that the creation’s first instinct was to save the little girl rather than watching her perial.
The creation is punished for risking his own life to save the little girl rather than being acknowledged and thanked for his brave actions. This proves the creation’s capability of being good and that the creation is punished unfairly due to his hideous appearance.
The creation works hard to be good and kind to all the human beings that he encounters but his runins with human beings is not helpful towards this goal of being kind. This was shown

in two different occasions, the first occasion was, “One of the best of these I entered; but I had hardly placed my foot within the door, before the children shrieked, and one of the women fainted. The whole village was roused; some fled, some attacked me, until, grievously bruised by stones and many other kinds of missile weapons, I escaped to the open country.” (90). When the creation is chased off by the villagers the creation goes off and hides away in an isolated hovel for refuge and rest. Also this quote proves that all the creation was doing was merely wandering around harmlessly but because of his appearance all of the villagers assumed he was some type of devilish monster and attacked him being a creation he wasn’t familiar with social behavior, like walking into someone’s house unannounced. As well it provides information to show that the monster has a good side because he has no intent to harm anyone but the humans, once again jumped to conclusions to assume he was going to do something bad. Another instance when humans were judgmental and hateful towards the creation when he was trying to do something nice is when he would take food from the cottagers to sustain himself but realizing it is inflicting pain on the cottagers he immediately stopped and began helping them by bringing them firewood. After a long time of observing them the creation wants to reveal himself to them, hoping to be accepted by them. The creation is trying to learn behavior that is welcome by most people. This is shown here, ”At that instant the cottage door was opened, and felix, Safie, and Agatha entered. Who can describe their horror and consternation on beholding me? Agatha fainted; and Safie, unable to attend to her friend, rushed out of the cottage. 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. I could have torn him limb from limb, as

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