Analyse how one or more important events influenced a change in a character
How people treat us has a big effect on the person we become. This was the case for the Creature in the novel ‘Frankenstein’ by Mary Shelley. The Creature was born with good intentions and a good heart, but these key events eroded this ‘goodness’ and turned him into a revenge-seeking monster as he was continually rejected by the people around him. The important events that influenced a change in the Creature was being forced out of the village, being rejected by the DeLacey family and finally being shot at after saving a girl from the river.
The first event that influences a change in the Creature was when he is chased out of the village. Up until this moment, the Creature’s only interaction with humans was with Frankenstein when he was created. The Creature arrives at the village filled with curiosity and good intentions. Shelley brings attention to the Creature’s good intentions through the Creature’s admiration of the village, “how miraculous did this appear”, however this admiration is quickly interrupted by his treatment by the villagers. He recounts, “I had hardly placed my foot in the door before the children shrieked, and one of the women fainted. The whole village was roused, some fled me, some attacked me.” He quickly escapes and finds shelter, away from the “barbarity of man”. This experience with the villagers is a wake-up call to the Creature. Their ‘barbarity’ gives him a strong first impressions of humans, leaving him fearful and distrusting of them. “I saw the figure of a man at a distance, and I remembered too well from the night before, to trust myself in his power.“ This event influences a change in the Creature because it is the first time he experiences society’s rejection and judgment, and it is the first time that he understands that he is different to humans, an outcast. The change that this installs in the Creature is that he begins to question his actions and appearance, and view himself differently to the rest of society. He still holds his ‘good intentions’, but is now cautious with how he acts around humans.
With knowledge of how humans could treat him again, the Creature carefully hides himself away, not wanting to provoke a similar event like the village experience. Not long after, he begins to help the DeLacey family, admiring their care and love for each other, and craving this for himself. After a while he gathers up enough courage to talk to the blind old man, who will not be able to judge him based on his ugly appearance. He is able to connect with the blind man, and the blind man is the first person to accept him and not fear him. “I am blind and cannot judge your countenance but there is something in your words that persuades me that you are sincere.” The Creature is finally having a positive experience with humans, with someone who can see his good qualities when the rest of the DeLaceys arrive home. Disgusted by the Creature’s appearance, the DeLaceys violently kick him out. Hurt and rejected, the Creature becomes angry and filled with revenge. His actions of goodness have gone to waste as the humans still cannot see past his appearance to who he truly is. The rejection hurts the Creature so deeply that he now seeks to inflict the same pain on them that they have caused him, “No, from that moment I declared everlasting war against the species.”
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