Do you think that the monster in Frankenstein deserves our sympathy? Why or Why not?

Essay by mengz August 2007

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On a chill night of November, Victor Frankenstein brought his creation to life. This creation has thin black lips, inhuman eyes, and a sallow skin through which one can see the pulsing work of his muscles, arteries, and veins. From this day onwards, a hideous monster is born, shunned by anyone who sees it.

This monster, although having committed many crimes in the name of vengeance, but I still feel sympathy for him as he was not such a creature when he was first born. At the moment of his birth, the creature was entirely benevolent and innocent, even if he looked hideous; he had the same innocence as a newborn child. He did not understand anything, but tried to learn everything in this new world and tried to make the best out of it. His awakening symbolized his start of “self-awareness”, and that he wanted to start out good.

But when he first affectionately reaches out to Frankenstein, he was abandoned, and became an orphan. Abandoned immediately after it’s born, anyone would feel sympathy for the monster, and with the sharp contrast as to how Victor’s parents and friends treated Victor who is the monster’s “father”, I really felt very sad for him. “My creator, make me happy” this sentence very effectively brought out the loneness, the despair and the sadness the monster felt.

In the beginning the monster means the people no harm; they reject and attack him because of his hideous appearance. Therefore, I believe that the monster is actually the product of his social circumstances. Like an infant, he first experienced the world, but all of the people that the creature encounters in his travels regard him with horror. He is often pelted with stones and beaten with sticks, though he attempts to make overtures of...