Frankenstein #8

"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" (Shelley, 104).

Upon the completion of the monster's account, Frankenstein first refers to him as "the being." Prior to his testimony, Frankenstein constantly dehumanized his creature, calling him a demon or monster. However, the pathos yielded from the creature's story extends to both the audience and Frankenstein. Though his relation to the monster may not improve, the mass exposition Frankenstein witnessed undoubtedly alters his perception. In fact, the first sentiments he accounts for the reader are bewilderment, perplexity, and speechlessness. This gives merit to the claim that Frankenstein is shocked to realize the sophistication of his creature. Clearly, he believed "the monster" to be nothing more than that--a destructive creature seeking to wreak havoc on the community. However, after his tale, it is clear that Frankenstein's creature was born with good intentions and still possess a relatively strong moral aptitude.