Frankenstein The Noble Savage Analysis

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From the sixteenth to the nineteenth century, the concept of the noble savage was extremely popular. People believed that man was inherently good and any evil that he develops is a direct result of the corrupting force of civilization. In Frankenstein, Shelley illustrates this change through the story of the creature. The underlying theme in the creature‘s story is a lack of understanding between him and other people. In his story, it is revealed that he was created knowing nothing. He did not understand emotions that normal people felt, nor did he know how to speak. This is the source of his misery in that he is unable to communicate with other people or understand their reactions. When he is driven away by fearful villagers, he is left wondering why they would do such a thing. It would seem that he is condemned to a life alone, unwanted by society. However, he finds hope when he stumbles upon the dwelling of a family.
He longs to present himself to the family and to be accepted by them. However, when he finally does, they act like every other human he has encountered and drive him away. Through his reaction, it can be seen that this event changes his disposition towards humans. Before, he was a benevolent being, helping others and not wanting to do harm. This is shown when the creature says, “I discovered also another means through which I was enabled to assist their labors.” Being driven away by people that he put so much trust in made him an altogether different