Summary

The story begins when the creature first sees The Sun. He doesn’t quite know what to make of its blinding light and subtle warmth, as he’s never experienced anything like it.

Passage

"By degrees, I remember, a stronger light pressed upon my nerves, so that I was obliged to shut my eyes. Darkness then came over me, and troubled me; but hardly had I felt this, when, by opening my eyes, as I now suppose, the light poured in upon me again. I walked, and, I believe, descended; but I presently found a great alteration in my sensations."

Summary

After many days of wandering he comes across an abandoned fire. A means for light and warmth in the dark, cold woods. He quickly realizes its destructive potential after burning himself on the embers. Nonetheless, he learns how to replicate it.

Passage

"One day, when I was oppressed by cold, I found a fire which had been left by some wandering beggars, and was overcome with delight at the warmth I experienced from it. In my joy I thrust my hand into the live embers, but quickly drew it out again with a cry of pain. How strange, I thought, that the same cause should produce such opposite effects!"

Summary

He discovers a township in the countryside and is immediately intrigued by their abundance of food and stately shelters. However, he quickly learns that the people who live here are violently afraid of him. They chase him back into the woods.

Passage

"I proceeded across the fields for several hours, until at sunset I arrived at a village. How miraculous did this appear! the huts, the neater cottages, and stately houses, engaged my admiration by turns. The vegetables in the gardens, the milk and cheese that I saw placed at the windows of some of the cottages, allured my appetite. 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."

Summary

After more relentless wandering he discovers a shelter near a humble cottage and grows fascinated by the family who live there: an older brother, younger sister, and an older man. He comes to find out they’re called the DeLacey’s.

Passage

"I ate my breakfast with pleasure, and was about to remove a plank to procure myself a little water, when I heard a step, and, looking through a small chink, I beheld a young creature, with a pail on her head, passing before my hovel. The girl was young and of gentle demeanour, unlike what I have since found cottagers and farm-house servants to be. Yet she was meanly dressed, a coarse blue petticoat and a linen jacket being her only garb; her fair hair was plaited, but not adorned; she looked patient, yet sad. I lost sight of her; and in about a quarter of an hour she returned, bearing the pail, which was now partly filled with milk. As she walked along, seemingly incommoded by the burden, a young man met her, whose countenance expressed a deeper despondence. Uttering a few sounds with an air of melancholy, he took the pail from her head, and bore it to the cottage himself. She followed, and they disappeared."

Summary

He discovers speech after tirelessly observing the DeLacey family. They communicate through a series of consistent and repetitive sounds. Over time the Creature begins to decipher them, and discovers basic vocabulary.

Passage

"By degrees I made a discovery of still greater moment. I found that these people possessed a method of communicating their experience and feelings to one another by articulate sounds. I perceived that the words they spoke sometimes produced pleasure or pain, smiles or sadness, in the minds and countenances of the hearers. This was indeed a godlike science, and I ardently desired to become acquainted with it."

Summary

After catching a glimpse of his reflection, he begins to understand the extent of his deformation. He realizes why everyone he encounters is so terrified by him, and starts to gain a sense of self.

Passage

"I had admired the perfect forms of my cottagers—their grace, beauty, and delicate complexions: but how was I terrified, when I viewed myself in a transparent pool! At first I started back, unable to believe that it was indeed I who was reflected in the mirror; and when I became fully convinced that I was in reality the monster that I am, I was filled with the bitterest sensations of despondence and mortification."

Summary

After learning about societal structure, more specifically class, he discovers why the DeLacey family is so unhappy, despite their “perfect” figures. They live in poverty and exile. He also begins to reflect on his place in society as a being with no belongings and no family.

Passage

"Every conversation of the cottagers now opened new wonders to me. While I listened to the instructions which Felix bestowed upon the Arabian, the strange system of human society was explained to me. I heard of the division of property, of immense wealth and squalid poverty; of rank, descent, and noble blood. The words induced me to turn towards myself. I learned that the possessions most esteemed by your fellow creatures were, high and unsullied descent united with riches. A man might be respected with only one of these acquisitions; but without either he was considered, except in very rare instances, as a vagabond and a slave, doomed to waste his powers for the profit of the chosen few. And what was I? Of my creation and creator I was absolutely ignorant; but I knew that I possessed no money, no friends, no kind of property."

Summary

He discovers that death is the only way out of his suffering, a means to an end. The concept of what this end is exactly is not yet known to him.

Passage

"I wished sometimes to shake off all thought and feeling; but I learned that there was but one means to overcome the sensation of pain, and that was death—a state which I feared yet did not understand."

Summary

He learns that most people have a traceable lineage, and are raised by a family. This furthers his sense of self when he realizes that he has no known lineage. He begins to question where he came from, and why his family abandoned him. He also questions why he came to be as an adult, with no discernible childhood.

Passage

"Other lessons were impressed upon me even more deeply. I heard of the difference of sexes; of the birth and growth of children; how the father doated on the smiles of the infant, and the lively sallies of the older child; how all the life and cares of the mother were wrapped up in the precious charge; how the mind of youth expanded and gained knowledge; of brother, sister, and all the various relationships which bind one human being to another in mutual bonds.

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."

Summary

After stumbling across a satchel of books, specifically Paradise Lost, Plutarch's Lives and Sorrows of Werter, the Creature realizes that people have in fact put words to his previously indescribable emotions. He specifically relates to Adam in Paradise Lost because of his animosity towards his creator.

Passage

"One night, during my accustomed visit to the neighbouring wood, where I collected my own food, and brought home firing for my protectors, I found on the ground a leathern portmanteau, containing several articles of dress and some books.

I can hardly describe to you the effect of these books. They produced in me an infinity of new images and feelings, that sometimes raised me to ecstasy, but more frequently sunk me into the lowest dejection."

Summary

He discovers 4 months worth of Victor's journal entries in his coat pocket, now that he’s learned to read he can finally decipher them. What he discovers sends him into a state of blind rage and despair. Victor is the sole reason behind all his suffering over the past two years.

Passage

"Cursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust? God in pity made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of your’s, more horrid from its very resemblance. Satan had his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him; but I am solitary and detested."

Summary

He constructs a plan to introduce himself to the DeLacey family, who he’s been observing all this time. The old man is blind and therefore cannot judge his appearance, so he plans to introduce himself while the rest of the family is away. When the conditions are right he carries out his plan and is graced with the only instance of kindness in his existence thus far.

Passage

"'I am blind, and cannot judge of your countenance, but there is something in your words which persuades me that you are sincere.'"

Summary

As he’s speaking with the old man his children return, upon seeing him the older brother beats the Creature with a stick and drives him out of the house. The DeLacey family flee their cottage, terrified that he might return. In a fit of rage the Creature burns down the cottage. He dances madly into the night and embarks on a journey to hunt down Victor.

Passage

"I lighted the dry branch of a tree, and danced with fury around the devoted cottage, my eyes still fixed on the western horizon, the edge of which the moon nearly touched. A part of its orb was at length hid, and I waved my brand; it sunk, and, with a loud scream, I fired the straw, and heath, and bushes, which I had collected. The wind fanned the fire, and the cottage was quickly enveloped by the flames, which clung to it, and licked it with their forked and destroying tongues."