ohmygoodness, this is so overdue–apologies all around~~
CONTINUING FROM LAST TIME:
Following’s the Monster’s miraculous ascend, a man stumbles upon him. This is Victor Frankenstein, the creator. Frankenstein is stunned at the moving creature and throws a large red cape over the Monster. Frightened and confused, the Monster leaves Victor stunned at the perfection of his own creation.
There is a strange sequence involving a rowdy group of men and women. Thumping, rhythmic music plays (I like Underworld, but not in the context. To be honest, this musical-sque section of the play was my least favourite.) as they flirt and drink. Later on, the Monster learns about fire (by accidentally burning himself on a stolen cooking pot) and is ridiculed by humans. This doesn’t bode well.
We switch to a homely small house – its occupants are one blind elderly man, and a sickeningly sick couple. The couple leaves for the fields and the Monster creeps up to the house. Having no sight, the old man (De Lacey) welcomes the strangely silent stranger. This is the Monster’s first taste of human warmth and he quickly befriends De Lacey, who, upon discovering that the Monster does not speak (De Lacey assumed it’s due to some sort of PTSD), teaches him the English language. I love love love this entire sequence. The Monster is like a child, fascinated and by the world and so happy that there is someone to introduce all its beauty to him. As the Monster begins to grasp basic language skills, his queries become more sophisticated. He begins to question his existence, he wonders why he is in pain, in emotional pain be cause his creator abandoned him.
For instance (from here):
De Lacey: There are two school of thought. One says that we are all made imperfect, and require the assistance of a higher authority—a deity—to overcome the sin of being born. The other school of thought—to which I subscribe—insists that when we leave the womb we are pure, that a babe in arms is untainted by sin, that evil is the product of social forces, and that God has nothing to do with how a man turns out, be it good or be it bad.
Creature: Me not do bad things.
De Lacey: I know you do not do bad things. You have a good heart. I know that.
Creature: Why my hungry?
De Lacey: Eh?
Creature: Why my hungry? Why no food for me?
De Lacey: I give you half of my food.
Creature: Still hungry.
De Lacey: It is the condition of men to be hungry.
Creature (jabbing a finger at his books): Not kings! Not emperors!
De Lacey (laughs): You’re learning fast.
Creature: Why my not a king?
De Lacey: I don’t know. Perhaps you are.
Creature: Yes! A king! Is my name?
De Lacey: I don’t know.
Creature: King what?
De Lacey: You have never told me your name.
Creature: Gnaaagh! Never heard. Not know.
De Lacey: You are a poor lost thing.
——————-
- De Lacey: It is night in the Garden of Eden. Do you see the moon?
- Creature: There. There it is.
- De Lacey: Describe it to me.
- Creature: Solitary.
- De Lacey: That’s a good word. Good.
- Creature: And sad, like me.
- De Lacey: Why is it sad?
- Creature: Because it is solitary.
- De Lacey: Why are you sad?
- Creature: Because with all that I read, all that I learn, I discover how much I do not know. Ideas batter me like hailstones. Questions but no answers. Who am I? Where am I from? Do I have a family?
He knows that there is something about his appearance that is disturbing and terrifying to other people. After many a time of De Lacey assuring him that his daughter and son-in-law are lovely, non-judgemental folks, the Monster allows himself to be seen.
Of course, it’s catastrophic. The Monster, feeling utterly betrayed and hurt, flees.
And it is here that he begins his moral descent.
LINGERING THOUGHTS:
- I loved the Monster’s relationship with the old man, even though it had to end. There was so much humour, truth and goodness between the two.
Creature: White! What? White! What?
De Lacey: Where?
Creature: In the air!
De Lacey: That’s snow. It’s not very interesting—a natural phenomenon, no more. Now please stop leaping about, we need to concentrate.
Creature: Snow! Snow!
De Lacey: Sit! We’ve work to do.
The Creature sits at a pile of books, rather grumpily.
2. I found the couple really irritating. They were over the top with cheeriness. And of course, the reason for the Monster’s ill-natured transformation.
3woodlandcreatures 
