Frankenstein Quotes

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Source: Frankenstein

Author: Mary Shelley

"Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even YOU turned from me in disgust?"

"Everything is related in them which bears reference to my accursed origin; the whole detail of that series of disgusting circumstances which produced it is set in view; the minutest description of my odious and loathsome person is given, in language which painted your own horrors and rendered mine indelible. I sickened as I read. 'Hateful day when I received life!' I exclaimed in agony. 'Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even YOU turned from me in disgust?"

Context


We're in Chapter 15 of Frankenstein: the monster is telling us how he found Frankenstein's diary and learned first-hand just how much his creator hates him. Not a great day for him.

The fact that Frankenstein "turned" from the monster "in disgust" is one of the central issues of the entire book and raises the question: is the monster innately bad, or was he made bad because his creator abandoned him?

Hello, nature vs. nurture debate.

Where you've heard it

Parents abandoning their children sadly isn't restricted to 19th-century British novels.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Words like "odious" and "accursed" are a little lofty, but this poor guy is just sad that his dad pretty much hates him.