How does Mary Shelley present the Monster in 'Frankenstein'?

PLAN YOUR ANSWER then write an introduction summing up all three points you are going to talk about. Another option is to leave a gap and write the introduction last.

FORM

In 'Frankenstein', Mary Shelley presents the monster as dangerous through her use of Chinese box (literary form). 

• The Monster begins his narrative following from Victor Frankenstein who follows from Robert Walton. 
• The monster is at the heart of the novel which suggests he stabilises the story and creates the core of it. 
• Both a modern and Elizabethan audience might associate the monster's presence in the middle of the novel as synonymous to Pandora's 'forbidden box'. 
• Frankenstein opens the box which allows horror and turmoil to spill out into the world. By using the Chinese box structure Shelley foreshadows to the audience that they may change their attitude once they hear from the monster because of the compelling nature the monster creates from being the character of negativity in the novel although his story may suggest the contrary. 
• Shelley may be using the monster's lack of opportunity to speak (being the smallest box in the core) to exemplify the little or no freedom of speech in places that were ruled by oppressive tyranical regimes such as Louis XVI's. From his awful dictatorship, the French Revolution began and defined the power of the working class.
• Thus Mary Shelley may be using the monster as one who is mistreated and neglected for something he has no control over: his looks as synonymous to how the working class were prejudiced against due to their lack of wealth in France during the 1700s. Therefore, Shelley uses the Chinese-box structure to convey the power of the working class, including the monster, for he is destitute. The monster's influence as character of the 'forbidden box' shows how powerful people power was in France thus Shelley shows how powerfully dangerous the monster and working class was to those of higher ranks like the royal family and Victor Frankenstein. The working class and the monster both convey their dangerous nature as they reveal the unappealing truths of their society.

STRUCTURE

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LANGUAGE