A/N: In the story of Frankenstein, there is a scene where the monster speaks to Frankenstein, begging him to create a companion who would not be terrified by his hideousness. Frankenstein was given an ultimatum: "create or else". Frankenstein sets out to attempt the deed, but shortly before his task is finished, he has a crisis of consience, and refuses to complete the task. This monologue (written for stage) is written from the point of view of the uncreated one regarding her not-quite birth, and she (her consiousness) is speaking to Frankenstein. If you have any points to raise, details to correct (I haven't fully read the book yet) or what-have-you, I'd love to hear it, so r&r!
'Tis better not to compound your crimes against God by assuming His role as creator, and create your monster's companion. If he, your first-born, whom you thought to create beautiful, was hideous, what then should I have been, who was to be as ugly as he? Indeed, he was so horrific to your eyes that you could not bear to look on him long enough to give him a name! You, his creator, his only parent, his only link to the world, shunned him first because of his form. Imagine, if you will, the amount of anguish your act must have inflicted upon that poor new-born. If you were to pull such a cruel trick upon me, granted, I would have a friend, an ally if you will against harsh reality in your original progeny, but he would be my only source of company for all my time here on earth. I don't think I would be able to bear it, for need of different insights on the world.
All beings crave change in their environment, and man-made children vary naught from God-given children. Thus, perhaps, I can sympathize with this pathetic creature's misery, but to relieve that anguish, yet take on an insurmountable burden of my own - would you have been able to create my shoulders strong enough to carry such a yoke? Not even you, the great Natural Philosophist Frankenstein, would have been able to carry out such a task. Perhaps not even God, in all His glory, would have deemed it possible.
But indeed, had you created me, he would have found a companion in me and I a companion in him, so it would not have been so terrible. Doesn't God say that the ultimate goal of life is to serve another? Your "monster" is far more educated than one could deem it possible; think of all the time he spent observing that delightful - well, delightful to a point - little family. He learned to speak English, and speak it well. He learned to understand his own mind. The being whom you detested and abandoned learned compassion, and caring, and love, and loyalty, all this without any direct educators in his short life. You, you despicable scientist, you brought this amazing individual into life, left him to his own devices, and yet all he asks is that you create a companion so he isn't so utterly alone.
Perhaps he was a wretched creature, ill-made, ugly to the point of causing terror; but to be forsaken by the very man who brought him into being and yet still manage to cultivate a kind and gentle heart...perhaps all one needs to do is look beneath this pitiful creature's exterior to find true beauty - a beauty which you could never hope to achieve. I look at you and while your outward appearance may seem fair, I look inside and I see a countenance unworthy of being in the presence of your creation; for all he desires is a companion, to be accepted instead of shunned because of his visage, and you have the temerity to refuse to end his suffering.
What kind of monster are you?
'Tis better not to compound your crimes against God by assuming His role as creator, and create your monster's companion. If he, your first-born, whom you thought to create beautiful, was hideous, what then should I have been, who was to be as ugly as he? Indeed, he was so horrific to your eyes that you could not bear to look on him long enough to give him a name! You, his creator, his only parent, his only link to the world, shunned him first because of his form. Imagine, if you will, the amount of anguish your act must have inflicted upon that poor new-born. If you were to pull such a cruel trick upon me, granted, I would have a friend, an ally if you will against harsh reality in your original progeny, but he would be my only source of company for all my time here on earth. I don't think I would be able to bear it, for need of different insights on the world.
All beings crave change in their environment, and man-made children vary naught from God-given children. Thus, perhaps, I can sympathize with this pathetic creature's misery, but to relieve that anguish, yet take on an insurmountable burden of my own - would you have been able to create my shoulders strong enough to carry such a yoke? Not even you, the great Natural Philosophist Frankenstein, would have been able to carry out such a task. Perhaps not even God, in all His glory, would have deemed it possible.
But indeed, had you created me, he would have found a companion in me and I a companion in him, so it would not have been so terrible. Doesn't God say that the ultimate goal of life is to serve another? Your "monster" is far more educated than one could deem it possible; think of all the time he spent observing that delightful - well, delightful to a point - little family. He learned to speak English, and speak it well. He learned to understand his own mind. The being whom you detested and abandoned learned compassion, and caring, and love, and loyalty, all this without any direct educators in his short life. You, you despicable scientist, you brought this amazing individual into life, left him to his own devices, and yet all he asks is that you create a companion so he isn't so utterly alone.
Perhaps he was a wretched creature, ill-made, ugly to the point of causing terror; but to be forsaken by the very man who brought him into being and yet still manage to cultivate a kind and gentle heart...perhaps all one needs to do is look beneath this pitiful creature's exterior to find true beauty - a beauty which you could never hope to achieve. I look at you and while your outward appearance may seem fair, I look inside and I see a countenance unworthy of being in the presence of your creation; for all he desires is a companion, to be accepted instead of shunned because of his visage, and you have the temerity to refuse to end his suffering.
What kind of monster are you?