Frankenstein 7

     As I finish up to chapter seventeen of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, I notice another important theme has appeared: benevolence. Benevolence is the active expression of love and sympathy for one's fellow beings. There were numerous instances where benevolences was shown by a number of different characters. When the creature finally entered the cottage of the DeLacey's, both the creature and the father of the DeLaceys show benevolence towards each other. Later on, when the creature meets William in the forest, the creature attempts to show benevolence towards William. However, when William fights back and calls the creature a "monster! Ugly wretch" and "ogre" (102) the creature has a sudden change of heart. When he is recounting the tale to Victor, both Victor and the creature show benevolence towards each other. After Victor refuses to create a friend for the creature, the creature does not torture Victor. Instead, he talks to him nicely and calmly. Victor, then, is benevolent towards the creature by agreeing to create a female creature. Victor says, "I concluded that the justice due both to him and my fellow creatures demanded of me that I should comply with his request" (107). This quote shows how Victor changed from hatred and fear to love and sympathy for the creature. Because of the creature's strong argument and promise to leave Europe and leave Victor's family alone, Victor agrees to the project. I am interested to find out whether or not the creature will stay true to his promise or whether his creature friend will become his companion in crime.