Frankenstein

1
Frankenstein

• Pages 98-115

2
The Monsters Tale

• Learns by watching the family in the cottage
• They often, I believe, suffered the pangs of
  hunger very poignantly, especially the two
  younger cottagers, for several times they placed
  food before the old man when they reserved none
  for themselves..This trait of kindness moved me
  sensibly. (99)
• No longer steals from the family
• Collects wood for the family and leaves it at
  their door

3
The Monsters Tale

• Desires to interact with the family
• He feels he must master the language first.

4
Tone

• the past was blotted from my memory, the present
  was tranquil, and the future gilded by bright
  rays of hope and anticipations of joy. (103)

5
Change in Tone

• I cannot describe to you the agony that these
  reflections inflicted upon me I tried to dispel
  them, but sorrow only increased with knowledge.
  Oh, that I had forever remained in my native
  wood, nor known nor felt beyond the sensations of
  hunger, thirst, and heat!...Of what a strange
  nature is knowledge! (108)
• Ignorance is bliss?

6
Importance of Family

• But where were my friends and relations? No
  father had watched my infant days, no mother had
  blessed me with smiles and caresses or if they
  had, all my past life was now a blot, a blind
  vacancy in which I distinguished nothing. From my
  earliest remembrance I had been as I then was in
  height and proportion. I had never yet seen a
  being resembling me or who claimed any
  intercourse with me. What was I? The question
  again recurred, to be answered only with groans.
  (109)

7
Importance of Family

• What was I?
• Who should teach him this information?
• Consequences of the absence of self-identity?