To fully understand the meeting on Mont Blanc, we must keep in mind Victor's prior reactions to his creation. From the moment of the creature's birth, Victor sees the creature as an inhuman beast. Rather than rejoicing upon fruition of his life's ambition, Victor flees in terror and disgust from his creation: "I beheld the wretch - the miserable monster whom I had created" (Vol. 1, Ch. 4). Victor then falls into despair and tries desperately to avoid both the creature and even any mention of him for as long as he can. This despair turns to horror upon the murder of his cousin, which Victor knows is the work of his creation. Not surprisingly, this deed cements Victor's view of his creature as a monster.

The creature continues to show himself sporadically to Victor, filling him with terror and unease. Victor's fear and rage come to a head when the creature approaches him on Mont Blanc: "'Devil!' I exclaimed, 'do you dare approach me? ...begone, vile insect! Or rather stay, that I may trample you to dust! And, oh, that I could, with the extinction of your miserable existence, restore those victims whom you have so diabolically murdered!' " (Vol. 2, Ch. 2) Thus it is clear that Victor firmly regards his creation as nothing more than a monster.

Despite these curses, the creature pleads with Victor to hear his case. His approach is that of a son to a father, as he seeks justice and compassion from his creator: "Have I not suffered enough, that you seek to increase my misery? ...Remember, that I am thy creature: I ought to be thy Adam; but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed" (Vol. 2, Ch. 2). Struck by the creature's insight and emotion, Victor concedes: "I weighed the various arguments that he had used, and determined at least to listen to his tale. I was partly urged by curiosity, and compassion confirmed my resolution" (Vol. 2, Ch. 2). Until this meeting, Victor regarded the creature as a monstrous brute; a living abortion not fit to be called human. It is only the creature's civility and poise, both human characteristics, that finally penetrates Victor's ignorance and enables him to listen to the creature's tale.

 

Read More >>