Chapter 15 of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is rich with allusions, primarily serving to highlight the Monster's intellectual development, his understanding of humanity, and his profound sense of isolation. Through its readings and reflections, the Creature draws parallels between its own existence and significant figures from literature and religion.
The primary allusions in Chapter 15 include:
Biblical Allusions: Adam and Eve
The Monster frequently compares itself to Adam, the first man created by God in the Bible, and expresses a longing for an Eve-like companion. This comparison underscores its desire for companionship and its deep loneliness.
- Adam's Solitude and Companionship: The Monster views itself as Adam, but a cruelly neglected one. It notes that Adam was blessed with a companion, Eve, directly from his Creator, while the Monster was abandoned and left without a similar solace. This is powerfully articulated when the Monster describes its feelings of isolation to Victor: "But it was all a dream; no Eve soothed my sorrows nor shared my thoughts; I was alone. I remembered Adam's supplication to his Creator. But where was mine?" This passage reveals the Monster's yearning for connection and its lament over being denied the fundamental companionship that even the first human was granted.
- The Fall from Grace: While not explicitly stating it, the Monster's eventual turn to vengeance can be seen as a parallel to the "fall" of humanity, where it, like Satan or fallen humanity, loses its innocence and benevolence due to perceived injustice and abandonment.
Literary Allusions: The Monster's Self-Education
Chapter 15 vividly describes the Monster's discovery of three key books in the DeLacey family's satchel, which profoundly shape its understanding of the world, human nature, and its own identity.
-
1. Paradise Lost by John Milton
- This epic poem, detailing the biblical story of the Fall of Man, is the most influential text the Monster reads. It considers it "as a true history."
- Identification with Adam: The Monster deeply sympathizes with Adam's initial innocence and subsequent fall, seeing its own creation and abandonment as a parallel. However, it notes that Adam had a benevolent Creator and a companion, privileges denied to the Monster.
- Identification with Satan: More significantly, the Monster often identifies with Satan, the fallen angel, especially in Satan's grand ambition, his rebellion, and his ultimate isolation and despair. It recognizes Satan's envy of Adam and Eve's happiness, mirroring its own envy of humanity. The Monster laments that "many times I considered Satan as the fitter emblem of my condition; for often, like him, when I viewed the bliss of my protectors, the bitter gall of envy rose within me."
- Themes of Creation and Rebellion: The poem’s exploration of creation, free will, good versus evil, and the consequences of disobedience directly influences the Monster's developing worldview.
-
2. Plutarch's Lives (or Parallel Lives)
- This collection of biographies of famous Greek and Roman figures provides the Monster with a broad understanding of human history, heroism, villainy, and social structures.
- Understanding Human Society: Through Plutarch, the Monster learns about the "virtues and vices" of humanity, the establishment of governments, the concept of patriotism, and the complexities of human ambition and morality. This knowledge intensifies its desire to be part of human society, even as it recognizes its exclusion.
-
3. The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
- This epistolary novel, a foundational work of the Romantic movement, explores intense emotions, unrequited love, and suicidal despair.
- Understanding Human Emotion: Werther introduces the Monster to the depths of human feeling, particularly love, sorrow, and longing. It helps the Monster articulate its own passionate nature and its profound sadness over its isolation and inability to form connections. The Monster learns about the "gentle feelings of love and affection," which it desperately craves but cannot experience.
Summary of Allusions in Chapter 15
To better illustrate these allusions, here's a table summarizing their significance:
| Allusion | Source | Significance to the Monster |
|---|---|---|
| Adam and Eve | The Bible | The Monster identifies with Adam as the first creation, yet laments that it, unlike Adam, was denied a companion (Eve) and was instead abandoned. This highlights its profound loneliness and desire for belonging. |
| Paradise Lost | John Milton | The Monster sees parallels between its creation and Adam's, but more often identifies with Satan due to its rejection and isolation. It learns about grand themes of creation, good vs. evil, and rebellion, shaping its understanding of its own existence and its resentment towards Victor. |
| Plutarch's Lives | Plutarch | Provides insight into human history, societal structures, and moral complexities. It educates the Monster on human virtues and vices, governance, and the achievements and failures of great individuals, enhancing its understanding of the world it desperately wishes to join. |
| The Sorrows of Young Werther | Johann Wolfgang von Goethe | Introduces the Monster to the intensity of human emotions, particularly love, despair, and longing. It helps the Monster articulate its own emotional turmoil and highlights its inability to experience the tender affections that humans cherish, deepening its sense of alienation and sorrow. |
These allusions are crucial for understanding the Monster's complex psychology. They demonstrate its intellectual capacity, its yearning for acceptance, and the profound tragedy of its existence, continually comparing itself to others and finding itself miserably wanting or cruelly wronged.
