Frankenstein’s creature attempts to integrate himself into society numerous times before he accepts that his physical defects and ‘ugly’ aesthetic appearance arouse fear in humanity; this separation from humanity forces him to discover alternative modes of integration. He “long[s]” to be part of civilisation yet he has been conditioned to recognise his dissemblance through victimisation. Therefore he “dares not” present himself to the cottagers, vowing to “discover the motives” behind individual relationships. In this essay I will argue that the Monster instinctively discovers the importance of language as well as the ability to manipulate language as a means of gaining companionship.
Table of Contents
1. Frankenstein Extract 1, Volume II, chapter IV, P.85/86
Objectives and Themes
This essay explores how Mary Shelley utilizes language as a sophisticated tool for manipulation and emotional connection in Frankenstein, specifically focusing on the Monster's attempt to bridge the divide between himself and humanity by mastering narrative and rhetoric to elicit sympathy from his creator.
- The role of language in fostering social integration and human interaction.
- The distinction between factual reporting and stylistic manipulation within the Monster's narrative.
- The use of animalistic lexical fields to establish power dynamics and perceptions of inferiority.
- The effectiveness of the Monster’s narrative in securing a sympathetic response from Frankenstein.
- The structural impact of embedded narratives and perspective on character empathy.
Extract from the Book
Frankenstein Extract 1, Volume II, chapter IV, P.85/86
Frankenstein’s creature attempts to integrate himself into society numerous times before he accepts that his physical defects and ‘ugly’ aesthetic appearance arouse fear in humanity; this separation from humanity forces him to discover alternative modes of integration. He “long[s]” to be part of civilisation yet he has been conditioned to recognise his dissemblance through victimisation. Therefore he “dares not” present himself to the cottagers, vowing to “discover the motives” behind individual relationships. In this essay I will argue that the Monster instinctively discovers the importance of language as well as the ability to manipulate language as a means of gaining companionship.
The purpose of the Monster’s narrative in this passage is to emotionally provoke Frankenstein so he consents to create another being as “horrible” as the Monster himself. Peter Brooks argues: From his initial experience of language, the monster intuitively grasps that it will be important to him because by its very nature it implies the “chain of existence and events” within which he seeks a place defines the interdependency of senders and receivers of messages in that chain, and provides the possibility of emotional effect…
In other words, it is language that holds the possibility of human interaction and thus human companionship. What the Monster observes and what Brooks suggests is that language relies on an ‘interdependency’ between individuals as one must ‘receive’ whilst the other ‘sends’. This notion is physicalized in the passage. Initially the Monster can neither understand nor speak language and therefore exists separately from humanity. He is confined to the outdoor space whilst the cottagers are able to enjoy the comfort of one another inside. The outdoors which the Monster inhabits is bestialised as he “lay on [his] straw” in a “hovel”; traditionally associated with sheltering cattle.
Summary of Chapters
Frankenstein Extract 1, Volume II, chapter IV, P.85/86: This chapter analyzes the Monster's deliberate use of linguistic sophistication and manipulative narrative techniques to foster empathy and overcome his social isolation.
Keywords
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, Language, Manipulation, Monster, Narrative, Sympathy, Interdependency, Alienation, Rhetoric, Humanity, Companion, Discourse, Power Dynamics, Embedded Narratives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this essay?
The essay examines how the Monster in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein utilizes language not only for communication but as a strategic tool to manipulate his creator and earn human sympathy.
What are the central themes discussed in this work?
The central themes include the transformative power of language, the social construction of 'monstrosity', the nature of interpersonal intimacy, and the manipulation of emotional responses through narrative framing.
What is the core argument or research question?
The author argues that the Monster intuitively understands the importance of language as a means of gaining companionship and consciously employs stylistic and rhetorical devices to appear more sympathetic to Frankenstein.
Which methodology is employed in this analysis?
The essay utilizes literary analysis and close reading of the text, incorporating theoretical perspectives from critics like Peter Brooks and Beth Newman to interpret the structural and stylistic choices made by Shelley.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body explores the physical and metaphorical separation between the Monster and humanity, the distinction between factual and stylized narrative, the use of rhetorical questions and asides, and the shifting power dynamics of 'animalistic' descriptions.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key terms include Frankenstein, language, manipulation, narrative, sympathy, isolation, and interdependency.
How does the Monster differentiate himself from the cottagers linguistically?
He uses personal pronouns like 'I' exclusively, distancing himself from the group identities of the cottagers, while simultaneously romanticizing their domestic life to heighten the reader's sense of his own profound misfortune.
What role does the 'animalistic' language play in the narrative?
By labeling humanity as 'barbarous' and 'creatures', the Monster ironically subverts his own marginalized status, casting the humans as the predators and himself as the vulnerable prey within their world.
Why is the concept of 'embedded narratives' significant here?
Because the Monster's story is told within the accounts of Frankenstein and Walton, his ability to successfully manipulate the listener is demonstrated by the fact that Frankenstein, despite knowing the Monster's murderous nature, still allows moments of sympathy in his report.
- Citar trabajo
- Laura Marsden (Autor), 2014, The Manipulation of Language in "Frankenstein", Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/286923
