The Creature does tell Walton that he intends to destroy
himself, but he hasn't done that yet. We learn from Victor
Frankenstein via Walton, that nothing has worked out at all
well for the Creature, and that is why he has decided to end
his existence. Mary Shelley includes some important elements
in the Creature's exchange with Walton that we ought to
consider as possibly being a part of the exercise of untried
resources of mind she mentioned in the preface. The Creature
is capable of feeling pleasure at being alive. He recalls having
had soothing dreams of virtue, fame and enjoyment, which he
now thinks he could not have again. He has given up on the
idea that he could meet with beings who would pardon his
outward form and would love him for the excellent qualities
he could bring forth. Of course, Walton is not likely to fit that
category of being. Not only is Walton prejudiced by the
Creature's appearance, but he has also been warned by
Frankenstein not to listen to what the Creature says, because
Walton might be taken in by the eloquence of the evil being.
The Creature says that he understands Walton's hostility
towards him and is accepting of it. It is important, however,
to note that Walton is apparently the only person who has
heard the story Frankenstein tells about his enemy. The watch,
whom Walton tells us he hears on deck, might be appalled by
the Creature's appearance, yet the watch might also consider
his appearance to be due to suffering the elements in an
inhospitable environment. Records of encounters of survivors
of disasters in the arctic report that, at first, a human being,
long exposed to the harsh atmosphere, could appear to be
other than human. The rescue of Lt. Pimm is such an example.
So, the watch on deck would likely respond to a sighting of a
person on an ice raft on a September night in much the way
they had on an August morning. What is interesting about the
situation Mary Shelley sets up is that it explains the abruptness
of the ending of the novel and introduces an otherwise unseen
horror. It comes about in this way. The watch on deck may
observe the person on the ice raft from a better vantage point
than Walton's. Indeed, the Creature may be easier for the
watch to see when he has disappeared from Walton's view.
What is the watch going to do, if they see a person on an ice raft?
They will do the same as before. They will attempt to rescue him,
even if, as before, the person is not interested in being rescued.
What will the watch say? They will say the same thing that they
said before. They have no reason not to say, "Our captain will
not allow a man to die on the open sea." There is nothing in the
novel that suggests that Walton or Frankenstein told the story of
the Creature Frankenstein claims to have created to any of the
crew. Now, you might think that the horror that is to follow such
a rescue would be the result of an unsuspecting crew at the hands
of a monster. Here is the problem. We have believed Frankenstein's
story and so has Walton. Would the crew believe it? Would Victor's
enemy tell a story consistent with the tale Victor told? There is
evidence that, at least in some ways, Victor's enemy's story would
differ significantly. Which of the conflicting stories will be believed
by the crew? Walton has rejected Victor's enemy and shown his
unwillingness to consider the truth that the "demon" might tell.
This could easily put Walton in an unpleasant situation. If he shows
or tells Victor's story to the crew, they will be able to see in it
evidence that it is a fabrication, evidence that Walton will not be
able to deny.
[Conclusion]
[HailMaryShelley Home]  [Return to Exercise of Mind]