Damage and Corruption of a Soul ---- Growth and Corruption of the Monster By 陈树新 张妍

Outline  Introduction  Three stages of the monster’s life  Reasons for change  Summary

Innocence----Maturity----Corruption 1. The stage of innocence  Birth/Appearance Dull yellow watery eyes, yellow skin scarcely cover the work of muscles and arteries beneath, lustrous and flowing hair, pearly white teeth, dun white sockets, shriveled complexion, straight black lips, etc----in a word, ugly!  Lifestyle/Behaviors: Live and act like an animal

Feeling of the monster after birth  Not knowing who or what he is. “I felt, heard, and smelt, at the same time; and it was indeed a long time before I learnt to distinguish between the operations of my various senses.”  Helpless, miserable, feeling pain invade him from all sides  Instinctively insecure : “I wish to express my sensations in my own mode but the uncouth and inarticulate sounds which broke from me frightened me into silence again.’’

Innocence----Maturity----Corruption 2. The stage of becoming mature 1) Curious about human beings and the society: attracted by the family of De Lacey 2) Moved by the family  Satisfying himself with berries, nuts, and roots instead of stealing food from the family  Assisting the family by collecting fire woods for them  Acquirement of language skills  The ability of reasoning: understanding towards human society

 Longing for reception and favor from human beings  Longing for love and fellowship

Innocence----Maturity----Corruption 3. The stage of corruption  Outlook on life: “I have no choice but to adapt my nature to an element which I had willingly chosen.”  Personality? Monsterality? cunning, wretched, cold-blooded, jealous, etc.  Revenge on his creator: Murderer of 3 victims and indirectly murdering Justine ----Destroying him by destroying all he loves  Self-destruction ----polluted by crimes, torn by the bitterest remorse, where can the monster find rest but in death?!

Seeking love  Victor had tried to create a beautiful being, but he is repulsed by its ugliness.  The monster smiles at Victor, reaches out its hand, feels love.  The unloved child, abused or neglected, grows up to be a monster

Lost of social identity rejection  The monster's story: felt pain, wept, ignorant, hungry, cold, alone. Everyone who sees monster shrieks  Compares self to Adam; monster "wretched, helpless and alone," made hideous, lonely and unhappy.  Talks to old man De Lacey; both are innocent outcasts.  Felix responds to monster's external appearance and hits him.

Broken promise TThe monster is willing to look beyond ugliness: he wants a female monster as ugly as himself FFrankenstein breaks his word

Summary Psychological and emotional deprivial Social prejudice on appearance Destructive power of anger and hate  Am I to be thought the only criminal, when all human kinds sinned against me?