Chapter 14 of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a pivotal installment that primarily serves as a crucial plot exposition, revealing the detailed background story of the impoverished cottagers, the De Lacey family, whom the Creature has been secretly observing. Through this narrative, the Creature also learns the history of Safie, the beautiful woman who is Felix De Lacey's love interest. This chapter is significant as it provides the Creature with a profound understanding of human society, emotions, and the complexities of good and evil.
The De Lacey Family's Tragic History
The Creature, while hiding in the hovel adjacent to the cottage, learns the full, tragic history of the De Lacey family. He hears their story as Felix, the son, recounts it to Safie, who is learning French and English. This revelation is central to the Creature's developing intellect and emotional landscape.
Key aspects of their past revealed include:
- Aristocratic Origins: The De Laceys were once a highly respected and affluent family in Paris. Old Man De Lacey was a blind but kind nobleman, and his children, Agatha and Felix, were virtuous and compassionate.
- Act of Philanthropy: Their downfall began when Felix attempted to assist Safie's father, a wealthy Turkish merchant, who had been unjustly imprisoned and condemned to death for a minor offense. Felix, moved by the injustice and Safie's plight, agreed to help him escape.
- Betrayal and Ruin: After Safie's father was freed, he betrayed Felix and his family by failing to uphold his promise of a reward and exposing their involvement. Consequently, the De Laceys were stripped of their wealth, exiled from France, and condemned to live a life of poverty and obscurity in the humble cottage where the Creature finds them.
Safie's Journey and Connection to the De Laceys
Chapter 14 also delves into the backstory of Safie, the "Arabian" or Turkish woman, and her profound connection to Felix and the De Lacey family's misfortunes.
- A Promise of Marriage: Safie's father had promised her hand to Felix in exchange for his help in escaping prison. However, being a prejudiced Muslim, he had no intention of allowing his daughter to marry a Christian and wished to return to his own country.
- Safie's Independent Spirit: Safie, whose Christian mother had instilled in her a desire for independence and a dislike for the patriarchal customs of her father's society, secretly loved Felix. She admired his kindness and virtue, which contrasted sharply with her father's character.
- Escape and Reunion: After her father's betrayal and departure, Safie, inheriting some of her mother's wealth, managed to escape from Turkey with the help of a former female servant. She embarked on a perilous journey to Europe to find Felix and reunite with the De Lacey family, fulfilling her love for him and seeking a more enlightened life.
Impact on the Creature's Education
The narratives of the De Laceys and Safie serve as an invaluable, albeit indirect, education for the Creature. He learns:
- Humanity's Virtues: He witnesses examples of love, loyalty, compassion, and courage through Felix's actions and Safie's devotion.
- Humanity's Vices: He also learns about prejudice, injustice, ingratitude, and the harsh consequences of societal judgment through the De Laceys' exile and Safie's father's betrayal.
- Social Structures: He gains insight into the complexities of human laws, justice systems, and the societal values that dictate human interactions.
This chapter is critical in shaping the Creature's understanding of humanity, intensifying his longing for connection, and deepening his sense of isolation and otherness when he realizes he cannot integrate into such a complex world.