2010 09 12 David d Levine Author Interview

The novel spends much time going through the monster’s awakening to his existence as a child (although a rather large one) through his maturation process, as he transforms into a thinking and feeling adult creature. The key scenes here are the months which the creature spends learning about life while occupying the hovel outside the cottage of Felix, Agatha and their father.

The creature is impressed with their beauty and kindness and feels affection for them. He even cuts wood for them at night, to relieve them of some of Frankenstein (Shelley)  their burdens. If the creature can just introduce himself to his friends and they accept him, the creature could become a part of the brotherhood of man. However, man is not willing to accept this kind, compassionate and articulate creature, simply because of his grotesque appearance.

This sends the creature over the edge, becoming the vengeful and murderous demon that people expect him to be. As the creature tells Captain Walton in the last chapter (Walton letter of September 12), “My heart was fashioned to be susceptible of love and sympathy … but was wrenched by misery to vice and hatred.” In his solitude and abandonment, the creature has become a monster, not one created by Victor but one created by mankind in general.