Frankenstein Quotes
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Source: Frankenstein
Author: Mary Shelley
"It is with considerable difficulty that I remember the original era of my being"
"It is with considerable difficulty that I remember the original era of my being; all the events of that period appear confused and indistinct. A strange multiplicity of sensations seized me, and I saw, felt, heard, and smelt at the same time; and it was, indeed, a long time before I learned to distinguish between the operations of my various senses. By degrees, I remember, a stronger light pressed upon my nerves, so that I was obliged to shut my eyes."
Context
We're in Chapter 11, about halfway through Frankenstein, and we're about to get the monster's story in full.
He starts, of course, at the beginning. When it comes down to it, Mary Shelley is giving us her version of what it's like to be an infant: surrounded by sensations, overwhelmed by sights, sounds, and smells, and not too happy about any of it. Judging by how most babies react to being born, we'd say she might be on to something.
Where you've heard it
This isn't usually the answer you get when you ask someone if they remember being born.
It's not quite the "It's Alive!" moment we think of from the movies, but we'll take it.
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.
There's something about describing one's birth using SAT words that rubs us the wrong way. Sorry, Monster.