Frankenstein

by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

I feel my heart glow with an enthusiasm which elevates me to heaven; for nothing contributes so much to tranquillize the mind as a steady purpose,—a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye.

My courage and my resolution is firm; but my hopes fluctuate, and my spirits are often depressed.

But do not suppose that, because I complain a little, or because I can conceive a consolation for my toils which I may never know, that I am wavering in my resolutions.

He is so gentle, yet so wise; his mind is so cultivated; and when he speaks, although his words are culled with the choicest art, yet they flow with rapidity and unparalleled eloquence.

Perhaps we did not read so many books, or learn languages so quickly, as those who are disciplined according to the ordinary methods; but what we learned was impressed the more deeply on our memories.

My dreams were therefore undisturbed by reality;

Neither of us possessed the slightest pre-eminence over the other; the voice of command was never heard amongst us; but mutual affection engaged us all to comply with and obey the slightest desire of each other.

Really? Are you sure?

I was required to exchange chimeras of boundless grandeur for realities of little worth.

But this discovery was so great and overwhelming, that all the steps by which I had been progressively led to it were obliterated, and I beheld only the result.

I will not lead you on, unguarded and ardent as I then was, to your destruction and infallible misery. Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.

Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it.

Are you to be happy, while I grovel in the intensity of my wretchedness?

You must be conscious of your actions because every action has a consequence. Frankenstein created this being and is responsible for its actions and to take care of it.

But, as if possessed of magic powers, the monster had blinded me to his real intentions; and when I thought that I had prepared only my own death, I hastened that of a far dearer victim.

He is so egotistical to think the creature would want to kill him. If someone was intent on creating destruction on the earth, they wouldn’t kill him because he is the problem of the earth.

“You are sorrowful, my love. Ah! if you knew what I have suffered, and what I may yet endure, you would endeavour to let me taste the quiet,

He is absolutely pathetic. Elizabeth has suffered so much more than him. She practically raised William while Victor barely new him, and the lady who suffered the death penalty was pretty much her sister.Futhermore he actually believes he has suffered more. The only thing he has suffered from is his own stupidity and patheticness.

it was during sleep alone that I could taste joy. O blessed sleep!

Can any man be to me as Clerval was; or any woman another Elizabeth?

What an idiot. You don't create new ties with people with the intention of replacing old ones.

Am I to be thought the only criminal, when all human kind sinned against me? Why do you not hate Felix, who drove his friend from his door with contumely? Why do you not execrate the rustic who sought to destroy the saviour of his child? Nay, these are virtuous and immaculate beings! I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on. Even now my blood boils at the recollection of this injustice.

I am the monster you created.

I have devoted my creator, the select specimen of all that is worthy of love and admiration among men, to misery;

Sure. He shouldn't have tormented him, but he wasn't that great of a person.

Polluted by crimes, and torn by the bitterest remorse, where can I find rest but in death?