Frankenstein Monster Language Analysis

In this extract, Shelley uses language and descriptions to present Frankenstein's Monster as a naturally innocent and curious individual. The extract is taken from the early stages of the monster's narrative so it gives the reader a good idea of what the original personality of the monster is like and tells of his first encounter with fire.
Initially, the monster is presented as intelligent and resourceful. After discovering the fire left by beggars, the Monster "watched the operation of the fire" and "examined the materials" of it, trying to find the cause of the flame. He saw that the wet wood wouldn't burn but dry wood "itself became inflamed" and, after coming to this conclusion, collected a "great quantity of wood" so he had a "plentiful
He is "overcome with delight at the warmth" provided by it. The word "overcome" suggests that he was completely taken over with delight when he saw the fire and that the joy he experienced was extreme. This gives the reader an idea of his circumstances at that point in the narrative and also how simple he is. The phrase also suggests a sense of childlike wonder: he was delighted by the warmth he felt because he hadn't experienced it before. In his delight, the monster touched the glowing hot coal in the fire but "quickly drew it out again with a cry of pain", which shows his innocence as he did not think the fire would harm him. The phrase "cry of pain" implies that he was hurt when he touched the flames, but the word "cry" also suggests that the pain he experienced surprised him, causing him to exclaim when he was burned because he was oblivious to the consequences. The simplicity and innocence of the monster here create imagery of a curious child and portrays him in a sympathetic light which makes him endearing to the readers. It also contrasts much from the descriptions of him provided by Frankenstein and how he behaves later on in the novel. Through this, Shelley shows that the monster was actually born good but his experiences made him evil. This shows Shelley being influenced by the philosophy at her time, particularly by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a Genevan philosopher who believed that society corrupts humans as it creates inequality and jealousy. This influence can be seen in the character of the monster as early on in his life: when he was separated from any organized society (in his natural state) he was "benevolent and good"; but later, after observing the De Lacey's and experiencing their repulsion when they saw him, he became vengeful and jealous, and consequently became a "miserable fiend". By showing the monster as happy and innocent in this passage, Shelley agrees with Rousseau's argument that