Reading Help Frankenstein Ch.10-24
behind the stupendous mountains of Jura. `
` `
` "At this time a slight sleep relieved me from the pain of reflection, `
` which was disturbed by the approach of a beautiful child, who came `
` running into the recess I had chosen, with all the sportiveness of `
` infancy. Suddenly, as I gazed on him, an idea seized me that this `
` little creature was unprejudiced and had lived too short a time to have `
` imbibed a horror of deformity. If, therefore, I could seize him and `
` educate him as my companion and friend, I should not be so desolate in `
` this peopled earth. `
` `
` "Urged by this impulse, I seized on the boy as he passed and drew him `
` towards me. As soon as he beheld my form, he placed his hands before `
` his eyes and uttered a shrill scream; I drew his hand forcibly from his `
` face and said, `Child, what is the meaning of this? I do not intend to `
` hurt you; listen to me.' `
` `
` "He struggled violently. `Let me go,' he cried; `monster! Ugly `
` wretch! You wish to eat me and tear me to pieces. You are an ogre. `
` Let me go, or I will tell my papa.' `
` `
` "`Boy, you will never see your father again; you must come with me.' `
` `
` "`Hideous monster! Let me go. My papa is a syndic--he is M. `
` Frankenstein--he will punish you. You dare not keep me.' `
` `
` "`Frankenstein! you belong then to my enemy--to him towards whom I have `
` sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim.' `
` `
` "The child still struggled and loaded me with epithets which carried `
` despair to my heart; I grasped his throat to silence him, and in a `
` moment he lay dead at my feet. `
` `
` "I gazed on my victim, and my heart swelled with exultation and hellish `
` triumph; clapping my hands, I exclaimed, `I too can create desolation; `
` my enemy is not invulnerable; this death will carry despair to him, and `
` a thousand other miseries shall torment and destroy him.' `
` `
` "As I fixed my eyes on the child, I saw something glittering on his `
` breast. I took it; it was a portrait of a most lovely woman. In spite `
` of my malignity, it softened and attracted me. For a few moments I `
` gazed with delight on her dark eyes, fringed by deep lashes, and her `
` lovely lips; but presently my rage returned; I remembered that I was `
` forever deprived of the delights that such beautiful creatures could `
` bestow and that she whose resemblance I contemplated would, in `
` regarding me, have changed that air of divine benignity to one `
` expressive of disgust and affright. `
` `
` "Can you wonder that such thoughts transported me with rage? I only `
` wonder that at that moment, instead of venting my sensations in `
` exclamations and agony, I did not rush among mankind and perish in the `
` attempt to destroy them. `
` `
` "While I was overcome by these feelings, I left the spot where I had `
` committed the murder, and seeking a more secluded hiding-place, I `
` entered a barn which had appeared to me to be empty. A woman was `
` sleeping on some straw; she was young, not indeed so beautiful as her `
` whose portrait I held, but of an agreeable aspect and blooming in the `
` loveliness of youth and health. Here, I thought, is one of those whose `
` joy-imparting smiles are bestowed on all but me. And then I bent over `
` her and whispered, `Awake, fairest, thy lover is near--he who would `
` give his life but to obtain one look of affection from thine eyes; my `
` beloved, awake!' `
` `
` "The sleeper stirred; a thrill of terror ran through me. Should she `
` indeed awake, and see me, and curse me, and denounce the murderer? Thus `
` would she assuredly act if her darkened eyes opened and she beheld me. `
` The thought was madness; it stirred the fiend within me--not I, but `
` she, shall suffer; the murder I have committed because I am forever `
` robbed of all that she could give me, she shall atone. The crime had `
` its source in her; be hers the punishment! Thanks to the lessons of `
` Felix and the sanguinary laws of man, I had learned now to work `
` mischief. I bent over her and placed the portrait securely in one of `
` the folds of her dress. She moved again, and I fled. `
` `
` "For some days I haunted the spot where these scenes had taken place, `
` sometimes wishing to see you, sometimes resolved to quit the world and `
` its miseries forever. At length I wandered towards these mountains, `
` and have ranged through their immense recesses, consumed by a burning `
` passion which you alone can gratify. We may not part until you have `
` promised to comply with my requisition. I am alone and miserable; man `
` will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself `
` would not deny herself to me. My companion must be of the same species `
` and have the same defects. This being you must create." `
` `
` `
` Chapter 17 `
` `
` The being finished speaking and fixed his looks upon me in the `
` expectation of a reply. But I was bewildered, perplexed, and `
` unable to arrange my ideas sufficiently to understand the full `
` extent of his proposition. He continued, `
` `
` "You must create a female for me with whom I can live in the `
` interchange of those sympathies necessary for my being. This you alone `
` can do, and I demand it of you as a right which you must not refuse to `
` concede." `
` `
` The latter part of his tale had kindled anew in me the anger that had `
` died away while he narrated his peaceful life among the cottagers, and `
` as he said this I could no longer suppress the rage that burned within `
` me. `
` `
` "I do refuse it," I replied; "and no torture shall ever extort a `
` consent from me. You may render me the most miserable of men, but you `
` shall never make me base in my own eyes. Shall I create another like `
` yourself, whose joint wickedness might desolate the world. Begone! I `
` have answered you; you may torture me, but I will never consent." `
` `
` "You are in the wrong," replied the fiend; "and instead of threatening, `
` I am content to reason with you. I am malicious because I am `
` miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind? You, my `
` creator, would tear me to pieces and triumph; remember that, and tell `
` me why I should pity man more than he pities me? You would not call it `
` murder if you could precipitate me into one of those ice-rifts and `
` destroy my frame, the work of your own hands. Shall I respect man when `
` he condemns me? Let him live with me in the interchange of kindness, `
` and instead of injury I would bestow every benefit upon him with tears `
` of gratitude at his acceptance. But that cannot be; the human senses `
` are insurmountable barriers to our union. Yet mine shall not be the `
` submission of abject slavery. I will revenge my injuries; if I cannot `
` inspire love, I will cause fear, and chiefly towards you my arch-enemy, `
` because my creator, do I swear inextinguishable hatred. Have a care; I `
` will work at your destruction, nor finish until I desolate your heart, `
` so that you shall curse the hour of your birth." `
` `
` A fiendish rage animated him as he said this; his face was wrinkled `
` into contortions too horrible for human eyes to behold; but presently `
` he calmed himself and proceeded-- `
` `
` "I intended to reason. This passion is detrimental to me, for you do `
` not reflect that YOU are the cause of its excess. If any being felt `
` emotions of benevolence towards me, I should return them a hundred and `
` a hundredfold; for that one creature's sake I would make peace with the `
` whole kind! But I now indulge in dreams of bliss that cannot be `
` realized. What I ask of you is reasonable and moderate; I demand a `
` creature of another sex, but as hideous as myself; the gratification is `
` small, but it is all that I can receive, and it shall content me. It `
` is true, we shall be monsters, cut off from all the world; but on that `
` account we shall be more attached to one another. Our lives will not `
` be happy, but they will be harmless and free from the misery I now `
` feel. Oh! My creator, make me happy; let me feel gratitude towards `
` you for one benefit! Let me see that I excite the sympathy of some `
` existing thing; do not deny me my request!" `
` `
` I was moved. I shuddered when I thought of the possible consequences `
` of my consent, but I felt that there was some justice in his argument. `
` His tale and the feelings he now expressed proved him to be a creature `
` of fine sensations, and did I not as his maker owe him all the portion `
` of happiness that it was in my power to bestow? He saw my change of `
` feeling and continued, `
` `
` "If you consent, neither you nor any other human being shall ever see `
` us again; I will go to the vast wilds of South America. My food is not `
` that of man; I do not destroy the lamb and the kid to glut my appetite; `
` acorns and berries afford me sufficient nourishment. My companion will `
` be of the same nature as myself and will be content with the same `
` fare. We shall make our bed of dried leaves; the sun will shine on us `
` as on man and will ripen our food. The picture I present to you is `
` peaceful and human, and you must feel that you could deny it only in `
` the wantonness of power and cruelty. Pitiless as you have been towards `
` me, I now see compassion in your eyes; let me seize the favourable `
` moment and persuade you to promise what I so ardently desire." `
` `
` "You propose," replied I, "to fly from the habitations of man, to dwell `
` in those wilds where the beasts of the field will be your only `
` companions. How can you, who long for the love and sympathy of man, `
` persevere in this exile? You will return and again seek their `
` kindness, and you will meet with their detestation; your evil passions `
` will be renewed, and you will then have a companion to aid you in the `
` task of destruction. This may not be; cease to argue the point, for I `
` cannot consent." `
` `
` "How inconstant are your feelings! But a moment ago you were moved by `
` my representations, and why do you again harden yourself to my `
` complaints? I swear to you, by the earth which I inhabit, and by you `
` that made me, that with the companion you bestow I will quit the `
` neighbourhood of man and dwell, as it may chance, in the most savage of `
` places. My evil passions will have fled, for I shall meet with `
` sympathy! My life will flow quietly away, and in my dying moments I `
` shall not curse my maker." `
` `
` His words had a strange effect upon me. I compassionated him and `
` sometimes felt a wish to console him, but when I looked upon him, when `
` I saw the filthy mass that moved and talked, my heart sickened and my `
` feelings were altered to those of horror and hatred. I tried to stifle `
` these sensations; I thought that as I could not sympathize with him, I `
` had no right to withhold from him the small portion of happiness which `
` was yet in my power to bestow. `
` `
` "You swear," I said, "to be harmless; but have you not already shown a `
` degree of malice that should reasonably make me distrust you? May not `
` even this be a feint that will increase your triumph by affording a `
` wider scope for your revenge?" `
` `
` "How is this? I must not be trifled with, and I demand an answer. If `
` I have no ties and no affections, hatred and vice must be my portion; `
` the love of another will destroy the cause of my crimes, and I shall `
` become a thing of whose existence everyone will be ignorant. My vices `
` are the children of a forced solitude that I abhor, and my virtues will `
` necessarily arise when I live in communion with an equal. I shall feel `
`
` `
` "At this time a slight sleep relieved me from the pain of reflection, `
` which was disturbed by the approach of a beautiful child, who came `
` running into the recess I had chosen, with all the sportiveness of `
` infancy. Suddenly, as I gazed on him, an idea seized me that this `
` little creature was unprejudiced and had lived too short a time to have `
` imbibed a horror of deformity. If, therefore, I could seize him and `
` educate him as my companion and friend, I should not be so desolate in `
` this peopled earth. `
` `
` "Urged by this impulse, I seized on the boy as he passed and drew him `
` towards me. As soon as he beheld my form, he placed his hands before `
` his eyes and uttered a shrill scream; I drew his hand forcibly from his `
` face and said, `Child, what is the meaning of this? I do not intend to `
` hurt you; listen to me.' `
` `
` "He struggled violently. `Let me go,' he cried; `monster! Ugly `
` wretch! You wish to eat me and tear me to pieces. You are an ogre. `
` Let me go, or I will tell my papa.' `
` `
` "`Boy, you will never see your father again; you must come with me.' `
` `
` "`Hideous monster! Let me go. My papa is a syndic--he is M. `
` Frankenstein--he will punish you. You dare not keep me.' `
` `
` "`Frankenstein! you belong then to my enemy--to him towards whom I have `
` sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim.' `
` `
` "The child still struggled and loaded me with epithets which carried `
` despair to my heart; I grasped his throat to silence him, and in a `
` moment he lay dead at my feet. `
` `
` "I gazed on my victim, and my heart swelled with exultation and hellish `
` triumph; clapping my hands, I exclaimed, `I too can create desolation; `
` my enemy is not invulnerable; this death will carry despair to him, and `
` a thousand other miseries shall torment and destroy him.' `
` `
` "As I fixed my eyes on the child, I saw something glittering on his `
` breast. I took it; it was a portrait of a most lovely woman. In spite `
` of my malignity, it softened and attracted me. For a few moments I `
` gazed with delight on her dark eyes, fringed by deep lashes, and her `
` lovely lips; but presently my rage returned; I remembered that I was `
` forever deprived of the delights that such beautiful creatures could `
` bestow and that she whose resemblance I contemplated would, in `
` regarding me, have changed that air of divine benignity to one `
` expressive of disgust and affright. `
` `
` "Can you wonder that such thoughts transported me with rage? I only `
` wonder that at that moment, instead of venting my sensations in `
` exclamations and agony, I did not rush among mankind and perish in the `
` attempt to destroy them. `
` `
` "While I was overcome by these feelings, I left the spot where I had `
` committed the murder, and seeking a more secluded hiding-place, I `
` entered a barn which had appeared to me to be empty. A woman was `
` sleeping on some straw; she was young, not indeed so beautiful as her `
` whose portrait I held, but of an agreeable aspect and blooming in the `
` loveliness of youth and health. Here, I thought, is one of those whose `
` joy-imparting smiles are bestowed on all but me. And then I bent over `
` her and whispered, `Awake, fairest, thy lover is near--he who would `
` give his life but to obtain one look of affection from thine eyes; my `
` beloved, awake!' `
` `
` "The sleeper stirred; a thrill of terror ran through me. Should she `
` indeed awake, and see me, and curse me, and denounce the murderer? Thus `
` would she assuredly act if her darkened eyes opened and she beheld me. `
` The thought was madness; it stirred the fiend within me--not I, but `
` she, shall suffer; the murder I have committed because I am forever `
` robbed of all that she could give me, she shall atone. The crime had `
` its source in her; be hers the punishment! Thanks to the lessons of `
` Felix and the sanguinary laws of man, I had learned now to work `
` mischief. I bent over her and placed the portrait securely in one of `
` the folds of her dress. She moved again, and I fled. `
` `
` "For some days I haunted the spot where these scenes had taken place, `
` sometimes wishing to see you, sometimes resolved to quit the world and `
` its miseries forever. At length I wandered towards these mountains, `
` and have ranged through their immense recesses, consumed by a burning `
` passion which you alone can gratify. We may not part until you have `
` promised to comply with my requisition. I am alone and miserable; man `
` will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself `
` would not deny herself to me. My companion must be of the same species `
` and have the same defects. This being you must create." `
` `
` `
` Chapter 17 `
` `
` The being finished speaking and fixed his looks upon me in the `
` expectation of a reply. But I was bewildered, perplexed, and `
` unable to arrange my ideas sufficiently to understand the full `
` extent of his proposition. He continued, `
` `
` "You must create a female for me with whom I can live in the `
` interchange of those sympathies necessary for my being. This you alone `
` can do, and I demand it of you as a right which you must not refuse to `
` concede." `
` `
` The latter part of his tale had kindled anew in me the anger that had `
` died away while he narrated his peaceful life among the cottagers, and `
` as he said this I could no longer suppress the rage that burned within `
` me. `
` `
` "I do refuse it," I replied; "and no torture shall ever extort a `
` consent from me. You may render me the most miserable of men, but you `
` shall never make me base in my own eyes. Shall I create another like `
` yourself, whose joint wickedness might desolate the world. Begone! I `
` have answered you; you may torture me, but I will never consent." `
` `
` "You are in the wrong," replied the fiend; "and instead of threatening, `
` I am content to reason with you. I am malicious because I am `
` miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind? You, my `
` creator, would tear me to pieces and triumph; remember that, and tell `
` me why I should pity man more than he pities me? You would not call it `
` murder if you could precipitate me into one of those ice-rifts and `
` destroy my frame, the work of your own hands. Shall I respect man when `
` he condemns me? Let him live with me in the interchange of kindness, `
` and instead of injury I would bestow every benefit upon him with tears `
` of gratitude at his acceptance. But that cannot be; the human senses `
` are insurmountable barriers to our union. Yet mine shall not be the `
` submission of abject slavery. I will revenge my injuries; if I cannot `
` inspire love, I will cause fear, and chiefly towards you my arch-enemy, `
` because my creator, do I swear inextinguishable hatred. Have a care; I `
` will work at your destruction, nor finish until I desolate your heart, `
` so that you shall curse the hour of your birth." `
` `
` A fiendish rage animated him as he said this; his face was wrinkled `
` into contortions too horrible for human eyes to behold; but presently `
` he calmed himself and proceeded-- `
` `
` "I intended to reason. This passion is detrimental to me, for you do `
` not reflect that YOU are the cause of its excess. If any being felt `
` emotions of benevolence towards me, I should return them a hundred and `
` a hundredfold; for that one creature's sake I would make peace with the `
` whole kind! But I now indulge in dreams of bliss that cannot be `
` realized. What I ask of you is reasonable and moderate; I demand a `
` creature of another sex, but as hideous as myself; the gratification is `
` small, but it is all that I can receive, and it shall content me. It `
` is true, we shall be monsters, cut off from all the world; but on that `
` account we shall be more attached to one another. Our lives will not `
` be happy, but they will be harmless and free from the misery I now `
` feel. Oh! My creator, make me happy; let me feel gratitude towards `
` you for one benefit! Let me see that I excite the sympathy of some `
` existing thing; do not deny me my request!" `
` `
` I was moved. I shuddered when I thought of the possible consequences `
` of my consent, but I felt that there was some justice in his argument. `
` His tale and the feelings he now expressed proved him to be a creature `
` of fine sensations, and did I not as his maker owe him all the portion `
` of happiness that it was in my power to bestow? He saw my change of `
` feeling and continued, `
` `
` "If you consent, neither you nor any other human being shall ever see `
` us again; I will go to the vast wilds of South America. My food is not `
` that of man; I do not destroy the lamb and the kid to glut my appetite; `
` acorns and berries afford me sufficient nourishment. My companion will `
` be of the same nature as myself and will be content with the same `
` fare. We shall make our bed of dried leaves; the sun will shine on us `
` as on man and will ripen our food. The picture I present to you is `
` peaceful and human, and you must feel that you could deny it only in `
` the wantonness of power and cruelty. Pitiless as you have been towards `
` me, I now see compassion in your eyes; let me seize the favourable `
` moment and persuade you to promise what I so ardently desire." `
` `
` "You propose," replied I, "to fly from the habitations of man, to dwell `
` in those wilds where the beasts of the field will be your only `
` companions. How can you, who long for the love and sympathy of man, `
` persevere in this exile? You will return and again seek their `
` kindness, and you will meet with their detestation; your evil passions `
` will be renewed, and you will then have a companion to aid you in the `
` task of destruction. This may not be; cease to argue the point, for I `
` cannot consent." `
` `
` "How inconstant are your feelings! But a moment ago you were moved by `
` my representations, and why do you again harden yourself to my `
` complaints? I swear to you, by the earth which I inhabit, and by you `
` that made me, that with the companion you bestow I will quit the `
` neighbourhood of man and dwell, as it may chance, in the most savage of `
` places. My evil passions will have fled, for I shall meet with `
` sympathy! My life will flow quietly away, and in my dying moments I `
` shall not curse my maker." `
` `
` His words had a strange effect upon me. I compassionated him and `
` sometimes felt a wish to console him, but when I looked upon him, when `
` I saw the filthy mass that moved and talked, my heart sickened and my `
` feelings were altered to those of horror and hatred. I tried to stifle `
` these sensations; I thought that as I could not sympathize with him, I `
` had no right to withhold from him the small portion of happiness which `
` was yet in my power to bestow. `
` `
` "You swear," I said, "to be harmless; but have you not already shown a `
` degree of malice that should reasonably make me distrust you? May not `
` even this be a feint that will increase your triumph by affording a `
` wider scope for your revenge?" `
` `
` "How is this? I must not be trifled with, and I demand an answer. If `
` I have no ties and no affections, hatred and vice must be my portion; `
` the love of another will destroy the cause of my crimes, and I shall `
` become a thing of whose existence everyone will be ignorant. My vices `
` are the children of a forced solitude that I abhor, and my virtues will `
` necessarily arise when I live in communion with an equal. I shall feel `
`