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Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: Language and Sympathy in a Monster’s Transformation Essay

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Introduction

In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the monster lurches into existence as large as a man but with the intelligence of a newborn. He is unable to read, speak, or comprehend basic social cues. Yet when he comes upon the cottagers, he learns language by seeing and listening to their conversation. The monster is transformed from an enigmatic nightmare into a sympathetic and tragic person because of this language acquisition and its eloquence.

Communication as a Means of Understanding

Shelley makes the case that verbal communication—rather than action or appearance—is the only way humans can genuinely understand one another by illustrating how language transforms the monster and by contrasting the articulate monster with his equally eloquent creator (107). The monster’s behaviors are horrifying before he learns how to communicate.

The fact that he managed to escape Victor’s workshop frighteningly and killed William seems to support the theory that he is a powerful, evil creature capable of random acts of violence. His startling entrance makes matters worse. Victor concludes, and Shelley asks us to assume that this monster must have a soul to match his horrible looks, given his patched-together physique, yellow complexion, and black lips.

The Monster’s Expression of Regret and Humanity

The monster, however, paints a different picture of his activities when he speaks. He confesses that once Victor deserted him, he was scared and alone. He expresses how hurt he was to learn that his appearance terrifies regular folks (Shelley 110). His account of saving a small girl and receiving a bullet for his pains displays his inclination to aid those weaker than himself. It arouses fury at society’s unjustifiable harshness toward him.

These stories demonstrate his empathy for and covert assistance with the cottagers. Even the monster’s account of William’s murder makes the compelling case that the monster’s rage at Victor ultimately led to the crime; this is by no means an excuse, but it is at least a plausible psychological explanation. Shelley pushes us to view the monster’s behavior from a completely different perspective and to empathize with his predicament by granting him the ability to speak.

Victor’s Alienation and Loss of Sympathy

By equating the monster’s remarks to Victor’s, Shelley increases our sympathy for him (109). Victor has numerous opportunities to present his case and portray himself as the story’s tragic hero because Frankenstein is his story. Despite his sincere—and drawn-out—efforts to prove himself correct, Victor’s words alienate us as they accumulate. When the monster escapes, he doesn’t feel much relief; he lets Justine die rather than jeopardize his reputation by disclosing the truth; he complains and lies; and he callously rejects and scorns his creation

Ironically, Victor would be more interested if he lost his ability to speak. Unlike his monster, he is not a killer, and his actions can appear reasonable. Nevertheless, he exposes the unpleasant impulses underlying those justifiable behaviors and loses the sympathy and trust of the readers.

The Monster’s Eloquence and the Role of Language

Despite the monster’s best efforts, Victor does not respond favorably to his persuasive speech or show any sign of devotion. Yet, they do have an impact he cannot predict. The monster wins the admiration of readers and transforms himself into the protagonist of Victor Frankenstein’s story by explaining himself and his deeds. Yet by pulling off this clever reversal, Shelley shows the important role language plays in defining people’s identities—as well as how others perceive those identities.

Conclusion

Despite Victor’s utter loathing for his creation, the monster demonstrates that he is a complex entity. The monster’s eloquent account shows his exceptional compassion and empathy. He helps a group of underprivileged peasants and saves a girl from drowning, but he only receives abuse and contempt due to his appearance. The monster, torn between compassion and vengeance, is left alone and haunted by regret. Even the death of his creator only brings him a sense of bittersweet relief: joy for having brought him so much pain and sadness for being the only person he has ever had contact with.

Work Cited

Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft. Frankenstein. Harvard University Press, 2019.

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IvyPanda. (2024, October 26). Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: Language and Sympathy in a Monster's Transformation. https://ivypanda.com/essays/mary-shelleys-frankenstein-language-and-sympathy-in-a-monsters-transformation/

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"Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: Language and Sympathy in a Monster's Transformation." IvyPanda, 26 Oct. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/mary-shelleys-frankenstein-language-and-sympathy-in-a-monsters-transformation/.

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IvyPanda. (2024) 'Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: Language and Sympathy in a Monster's Transformation'. 26 October.

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IvyPanda. 2024. "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: Language and Sympathy in a Monster's Transformation." October 26, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/mary-shelleys-frankenstein-language-and-sympathy-in-a-monsters-transformation/.

1. IvyPanda. "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: Language and Sympathy in a Monster's Transformation." October 26, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/mary-shelleys-frankenstein-language-and-sympathy-in-a-monsters-transformation/.


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IvyPanda. "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: Language and Sympathy in a Monster's Transformation." October 26, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/mary-shelleys-frankenstein-language-and-sympathy-in-a-monsters-transformation/.

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