Frankenstein Prejudice Quotes

“When I slept or was absent, the forms of the venerable blind father, the gentle Agatha, and the excellent Felix flitted before me. I looked upon them as superior beings who would be the arbiters of my future destiny. I formed in my imagination a thousand pictures of presenting myself to them, and their reception of me. I imagined that they would be disgusted, until, by my gentle demeanour and conciliating words, I should first win their favour and afterwards their love.”

– Mary Shelley

Frankenstein, Chapter 12. The creature’s desire for affection and love makes him appear a sympathetic and deeply human character. He considers revealing himself to the De Lacey family, hoping they will look beyond his appearance, not prejudge him and accept him like any other person.

“Who can describe their horror and consternation on beholding me? Agatha fainted, and Safie, unable to attend to her friend, rushed out of the cottage. Felix darted forward, and with supernatural force tore me from his father, to whose knees I clung; in a transport of fury, he dashed me to the ground and struck me violently with a stick.”

– Mary Shelley

Frankenstein, Chapter 15. Felix, Safie and Agatha are horrified when they see the monster. Even though he didn’t do anything wrong, Felix judged him based on his looks and attacked him.

“I rushed from my hiding-place and with extreme labour, from the force of the current, saved her and dragged her to shore. She was senseless, and I endeavoured by every means in my power to restore animation, when I was suddenly interrupted by the approach of a rustic, who was probably the person from whom she had playfully fled. On seeing me, he darted towards me, and tearing the girl from my arms, hastened towards the deeper parts of the wood. I followed speedily, I hardly knew why; but when the man saw me draw near, he aimed a gun, which he carried, at my body and fired. I sank to the ground, and my injurer, with increased swiftness, escaped into the wood.”

– Mary Shelley

Frankenstein, Chapter 16. The creature tries to do a good and a heroic deed, but because of his hideous appearance is shot and wounded.
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