The monster in Mary Shelly's Frankenstein takes a leap through life as big as a man but as ignorant as a newborn . He cannot read, speak, or understand the basics of human interaction. However, when he came across cottagers, he learned the language by observing them and studying their speech. It is this acquisition of language, along with the eloquence it brings, that transforms the monster of a mysterious nightmare into a sympathetic and tragic figure. By showing how language transforms the monster and contrasting the well-spoken monster with its equally articulate creator, Shelley argues that verbal communication, rather than action or appearance, is the only means by which people can truly understand each other. plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Before the monster learns to express itself, its actions are nothing short of terrifying. His escape from Victor's workshop seems sinister, and William's murder seemingly confirms the idea that he is a powerful and malignant beast, capable of unmotivated violence. His shocking appearance doesn't help matters. Victor assumes, and Shelley invites us to assume with him, that this being, with its patched body, yellow skin, and black lips, must have a soul that matches its hideous appearance. he casts his actions in a different light. He explains that Victor's desertion left him alone and afraid. He talks about how hurt he was when he realized his appearance scared normal people. His stories of sympathy and secretly helping cottagers show that he has an empathetic nature, and his story of rescuing a young girl and receiving a bullet for her troubles demonstrates his instinct to help those who are weaker than him, arousing our indignation at the unjustified cruelty of society. towards him. Even the description of the monster's murder of William convincingly demonstrates that fury at Victor drove the monster to violence - this is by no means an excuse, but certainly an understandable and psychologically credible explanation. By giving the monster oratory power, Shelley forces us to view his behavior from an entirely different perspective and sympathize with his plight. Shelley reinforces our sympathy for the monster by comparing his words to Victor's. Frankenstein is the story of Victor; he has countless opportunities to make his case and present himself as the tragic hero of the tale. Despite his earnest – and lengthy – attempts to prove himself right, Victor's words only alienate us as they pile up. He feels little but relief when the monster escapes; he lets Justine go to death rather than risk his reputation by telling the truth; he whines and procrastinates; he heartlessly abandons and despises his own creation. Ironically, Victor would be more attractive if he lost the power to speak. Unlike his monster, he is not a murderer. On their own, his actions may seem reasonable. But because he bares his soul by communicating verbally with us, the readers, he reveals the unattractive motivations behind these reasonable actions and loses our trust and sympathy. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. The monster's eloquent words do not have the desired effect: they fail to win Victor's approval or win his affection. However, they have an effect that he cannot predict. By explaining himself and his actions, the monster gains our favor and transforms into..