Summary
The De Lacey Family's Fall from Grace
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The creature finally tells his side of the story, and it's not what Victor expected. After being abandoned by his creator, the creature awakens alone and confused in the world. He describes his first experiences - learning to see, feel hunger and cold, discovering fire. Like a newborn, he has to figure out everything from scratch, but with the mind of an adult and the appearance of a nightmare. He watches a family from hiding, learning language and human behavior by observing them. The De Lacey family becomes his window into human connection - he sees their kindness, their struggles, their love for each other. He even helps them secretly, chopping wood and clearing snow. But when he finally reveals himself, hoping for acceptance, they react with horror and violence. This rejection breaks something in him. The creature's story reveals a tragic truth: he wasn't born evil. Society's fear and rejection transformed him into the monster everyone believes him to be. His eloquent storytelling shows intelligence and sensitivity, making his isolation even more heartbreaking. This chapter forces us to question who the real monster is - the creature who was abandoned and rejected, or the society that refused to show him compassion. It's a powerful reminder that our treatment of others, especially those who are different, has consequences.
Coming Up in Chapter 19
The creature's story continues as he reveals how his desire for companionship led to increasingly desperate acts. His tale of watching the De Lacey family will take a darker turn as his hope for acceptance crumbles.
Share it with friends
An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 411 words)
"ome time elapsed before I learned the history of my friends. It was one which could not fail to impress itself deeply on my mind, unfolding as it did a number of circumstances, each interesting and wonderful to one so utterly inexperienced as I was.
"The name of the old man was De Lacey. He was descended from a good family in France, where he had lived for many years in affluence, respected by his superiors and beloved by his equals. His son was bred in the service of his country, and Agatha had ranked with ladies of the highest distinction. A few months before my arrival they had lived in a large and luxurious city called Paris, surrounded by friends and possessed of every enjoyment which virtue, refinement of intellect, or taste, accompanied by a moderate fortune, could afford.
"The father of Safie had been the cause of their ruin. He was a Turkish merchant and had inhabited Paris for many years, when, for some reason which I could not learn, he became obnoxious to the government. He was seized and cast into prison the very day that Safie arrived from Constantinople to join him. He was tried and condemned to death. The injustice of his sentence was very flagrant; all Paris was indignant; and it was judged that his religion and wealth rather than the crime alleged against him had been the cause of his condemnation.
"Felix had accidentally been present at the trial; his horror and indignation were uncontrollable when he heard the decision of the court. He made, at that moment, a solemn vow to deliver him and then looked around for the means. After many fruitless attempts to gain admittance to the prison, he found a strongly grated window in an unguarded part of the building, which lighted the dungeon of the unfortunate Muhammadan, who, loaded with chains, waited in despair the execution of the barbarous sentence. Felix visited the grate at night and made known to the prisoner his intentions in his favour. The Turk, amazed and delighted, endeavoured to kindle the zeal of his deliverer by promises of reward and wealth. Felix rejected his offers with contempt, yet when he saw the lovely Safie, who was allowed to visit her father and who by her gestures expressed her lively gratitude, the youth could not help owning to his own mind that the captive possessed a treasure which would fully reward his toil and hazard.
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Rejection's Creation
How repeated rejection and isolation transform people into the very thing others feared they might become.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to trace current conflicts back to earlier relationship dynamics and your own role in creating them.
Practice This Today
This week, when someone seems to be acting against you, ask yourself what interaction or pattern might have preceded their behavior—look for your own fingerprints on the situation.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Noble Savage
The idea that people are naturally good until society corrupts them. The creature starts innocent and learns evil from how humans treat him. This was a popular concept in Shelley's time that challenged ideas about human nature.
Modern Usage:
We see this when people say kids aren't born racist or when we blame society for creating criminals instead of looking at personal responsibility.
Social Rejection
Being cast out or refused acceptance by a community based on appearance or differences. The creature faces this repeatedly, which transforms his personality from hopeful to vengeful.
Modern Usage:
This happens today with bullying, discrimination, or when people are excluded from social groups because they look different or don't fit in.
Self-Education
Learning without formal teachers by observing and practicing. The creature teaches himself language, emotions, and social behavior by watching the De Lacey family from hiding.
Modern Usage:
People today learn skills through YouTube videos, online courses, or watching others at work instead of going to traditional school.
Sympathy vs. Horror
The conflict between feeling sorry for someone and being afraid of them. Readers start to pity the creature even while being disturbed by his actions.
Modern Usage:
We see this with homeless people, ex-convicts, or anyone whose appearance or situation makes us uncomfortable even when we know they need help.
Nature vs. Nurture
The debate over whether behavior comes from how you're born or how you're raised. The creature's story suggests that cruel treatment, not evil nature, made him a monster.
Modern Usage:
This comes up in discussions about why some kids become criminals while others don't, or whether addiction is a disease or a choice.
Eloquent Speech
Speaking in a refined, educated way that shows intelligence and emotion. Despite his appearance, the creature speaks beautifully, which surprises Victor and the reader.
Modern Usage:
When someone who looks rough or uneducated speaks thoughtfully, it challenges our assumptions about intelligence and worth.
Characters in This Chapter
The Creature
Tragic antagonist
Finally gets to tell his side of the story. Reveals he wasn't born evil but became vengeful after repeated rejection. His intelligence and eloquence make his isolation more heartbreaking.
Modern Equivalent:
The school shooter who was bullied and ignored until they snapped
Victor Frankenstein
Reluctant listener
Forced to hear how his abandonment created the monster. Must confront his responsibility as creator. His horror begins mixing with guilt as he realizes his role.
Modern Equivalent:
The absent parent who has to face what their neglect did to their kid
De Lacey (the blind father)
Unwitting mentor figure
The only human who shows the creature kindness because he can't see his appearance. Represents what acceptance could look like without prejudice.
Modern Equivalent:
The one person who judges you by your character instead of your looks or background
Felix De Lacey
Representative of society's rejection
Reacts with immediate violence when he sees the creature, despite the creature's peaceful intentions. His fear destroys the creature's hope for acceptance.
Modern Equivalent:
The person who calls security when they see someone who 'doesn't belong' in their neighborhood
Key Quotes & Analysis
"I am malicious because I am miserable."
Context: The creature explains to Victor why he became violent and vengeful.
This reveals that evil isn't natural but created by suffering. The creature takes responsibility for his actions while explaining the cause. It challenges the idea that some people are just born bad.
In Today's Words:
I hurt people because I've been hurt so badly myself.
"Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded."
Context: Describing his feelings while watching the happy De Lacey family.
Shows the creature's deep loneliness and desire for connection. He doesn't want to destroy happiness but wishes he could share in it. His isolation is complete and permanent.
In Today's Words:
Everyone else gets to be happy and loved, but I never will.
"My vices are the children of a forced solitude that I abhor."
Context: Explaining how isolation corrupted his originally good nature.
The creature blames his evil actions on being cut off from society, not on being inherently bad. He hates being alone but has no choice. This shifts blame from individual evil to social rejection.
In Today's Words:
I only became bad because you forced me to be alone, and I hate being alone.
Thematic Threads
Identity
In This Chapter
The creature's identity is shaped entirely by others' reactions to him, showing how external treatment becomes internal reality
Development
Evolved from Victor's identity crisis to show how society shapes who we become
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when you catch yourself becoming what others expect rather than who you want to be
Class
In This Chapter
The creature is permanently excluded from society based on appearance, like class barriers that seem impossible to cross
Development
Deepened from earlier hints to show how social exclusion creates permanent outsiders
In Your Life:
You see this when certain jobs, neighborhoods, or social circles feel forever out of reach
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
The creature's desperate need for connection and the De Lacey family's kindness show what he's been denied
Development
Contrasts Victor's isolation by choice with the creature's forced isolation
In Your Life:
This appears when you realize how much your behavior is shaped by whether people accept or reject you
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Society expects the creature to be a monster based on appearance, and he eventually fulfills that expectation
Development
Shows the dark side of expectations that Victor couldn't meet in earlier chapters
In Your Life:
You experience this when you find yourself living up to others' low expectations instead of your own potential
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
The creature's self-education and emotional development show remarkable growth despite abandonment
Development
Contrasts with Victor's stunted growth, showing growth is possible even in isolation
In Your Life:
This reminds you that you can keep learning and growing even when others have given up on you
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
The creature describes learning everything from scratch - language, emotions, social behavior. What does his learning process reveal about how we all develop our understanding of the world?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does the creature's attempt to connect with the De Lacey family end in violence and rejection? What role does appearance versus character play in this outcome?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see the 'rejection spiral' pattern today - situations where people become what others expect them to be after repeated rejection?
application • medium - 4
If you were Victor hearing this story, how would you respond? What responsibility does a creator have for what they bring into the world?
application • deep - 5
The creature's eloquent storytelling contrasts sharply with how others see him. What does this teach us about the difference between how people appear and who they actually are?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Own Rejection Spiral
Think of a time when you were repeatedly rejected, dismissed, or treated as an outsider. Map the progression: What was your initial response? How did repeated rejection change your behavior? Did you eventually become what others expected? Write down the specific moments when your attitude shifted.
Consider:
- •Look for the exact point where hope turned to resentment
- •Notice how your behavior changed to match others' expectations
- •Consider what different treatment might have produced different outcomes
Journaling Prompt
Write about someone you may have contributed to rejecting or isolating. How might your treatment have shaped their response? What would you do differently now?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 19: The Creature Discovers Paradise Lost
The creature's story continues as he reveals how his desire for companionship led to increasingly desperate acts. His tale of watching the De Lacey family will take a darker turn as his hope for acceptance crumbles.
