Frankenstein

by

Mary Shelley

Frankenstein: Chapter 13 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
When a dark and beautiful "Arabian" woman named Safie arrives at the cottage, the family's mood, and Felix's in particular, brightens. Safie does not speak the family's language, and Felix teaches her from a history book. As she learns, so does the monster, which is disgusted that a race as noble as mankind is also capable of such evil.
The notion that a "noble and godlike" species like man can also be "evil" disgusts the monster and leaves it with a feeling of loathing. The gaining of language and the knowledge it offers can be seen as a loss of innocence.
Themes
Family, Society, Isolation Theme Icon
Lost Innocence Theme Icon
As he learns about society and humans, the monster realizes that it has no society of its own. It is a monster, doomed to be always without family or people. It wishes it had never gotten this knowledge about society, which makes it so miserable.
A key turning point for the monster. In realizing humanity's shallowness, he also realizes his own sorry fate as an outcast, a monster.
Themes
Family, Society, Isolation Theme Icon
Lost Innocence Theme Icon
Quotes
Literary Devices