In the seventeenth chapter of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the creature, after being sent off in disgust by Victor, faces the world alone. He finds himself in a village of cottages, learning the ways of humans and experiencing their interactions. He learns the names of “the cottages themselves” (Shelley 83) and of a specific family; their names being “Father”, the sister “Agatha”, and the young brother “Felix” (Shelley 83). Although the creature was unable, at first, to understand the communications between humans and apply it, he was able to “distinguish several” (Shelley 83) words. After an encounter Felix has with an Arabian, female stranger, “Safie” as he calls her, she is instructed by him the book, “Volney’s Ruins of Empires” (Shelley 89). The creature learns through the continuous explanations Felix gives to Safie; he obtains “a cursory knowledge of history” (Shelley 89) and an “insight into the manners, governments, and religions of the different nations of the earth” (Shelley 89).
In our world, when a child first learns about history and the matters of the nations of earth, some find interest in it, and others do not. The creature’s reaction to learning these topics was sadness and concern. For when he learned about the “American Hemisphere” (Shelley 89), he cried with Safie over the fate of the Native Americans. The creatures learning styles and reaction to the topics he learns, leads me to ask the questions:
- Although the creature is made-up of full-grown human parts, how can he be compared to a child, or a being who is not fully intelligent just yet?
- How does his current lack of understand towards communication affect his intelligence of understanding ideas?
- Do you feel that his reaction to the discovery of the American Hemisphere is appropriate in this time?
The creature is definitely learning for himself much as a child would, he just has a higher baseline. He observes and theorizes, making connections. He learns for himself through text and observation. His lack of understanding towards communication, means he has to learn for himself, and this can lead to a lack of fully understanding different concepts. I think he connects with a land that’s unexplored and mysterious. I think he can see himself being comfortable there, and alone in peace. It gives him an opportunity to get far away from humanity and live his life in solitude.
Yes, I felt that his reaction to the discovery of the American Hemisphere was appropriate because it shows the creature is trying to understand humanity. In the text, he cries after learning about the Native Americans and this is not a trait of a monster, so maybe he can learn humanity after all. The creature learns so much by observing others, so why can’t he be seen as a work of art?