3. Short-response prompt (15 points)
Read the following passage from chapter 10 of Frankenstein, in which Victor Frankenstein encounters his creature near the summit of Montanvert:
It was nearly noon when I arrived at the top of the ascent. For some time I sat upon the rock that overlooks the sea of ice. A mist covered both that and the surrounding mountains. Presently a breeze dissipated the cloud, and I descended upon the glacier. The surface is very uneven, rising like the waves of a troubled sea, descending low, and interspersed by rifts that sink deep. The field of ice is almost a league in width, but I spent nearly two hours in crossing it.

. . . I suddenly beheld the figure of a man, at some distance, advancing towards me with superhuman speed. . . . I perceived, as the shape came nearer (sight tremendous and abhorred!) that it was the wretch whom I had created. . . . "Devil," I exclaimed, "do you dare approach me? And do not you fear the fierce vengeance of my arm wreaked on your miserable head? Begone, vile insect! Or rather, stay, that I may trample you to dust! And, oh! That I could, with the extinction of your miserable existence, restore those victims whom you have so diabolically murdered!" "I expected this reception," said the daemon. "All men hate the wretched; how, then, must I be hated, who am miserable beyond all living things! . . . Remember that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed. Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous."
In the passage, whom does Shelley portray as more monstrous: Frankenstein or the creature?

Write a short argument to answer the question. In your argument, analyze Shelley's choice of language, setting, and character development. You are writing an argument, so be careful to include a clear claim and respond to at least one counterclaim. Also be sure to use specific details from the passage to develop your claim and counterclaim.

In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Shelley portrays both Victor Frankenstein and his creature as monstrous figures, but ultimately, she presents Frankenstein as the more monstrous of the two.

Shelley's choice of language highlights Frankenstein's visceral reaction to encountering his creature. Frankenstein immediately responds with hostility and violence, calling the creature a "wretch," a "vile insect," and a "devil." He expresses a desire to destroy the creature, even going so far as to wish for the extinction of its existence. This language emphasizes Frankenstein's cruelty and lack of empathy towards his own creation.

Furthermore, Shelley uses the setting to underscore Frankenstein's monstrous behavior. The scene takes place on a glacier, a desolate and isolated landscape that mirrors the emotional state of both characters. Frankenstein's encounter with the creature occurs in a remote and unforgiving environment, reflecting the coldness and detachment he feels towards his creation.

Additionally, Shelley develops Frankenstein's character throughout the novel to highlight his moral transgressions and hubris. Frankenstein's reckless pursuit of knowledge and ambition leads to the creation of the creature, and his subsequent abandonment of it demonstrates his callous disregard for the consequences of his actions. By contrast, the creature's plea for understanding and compassion humanizes him and evokes sympathy from the reader.

A potential counterargument may suggest that the creature's actions, including the murders he commits, make him more monstrous than Frankenstein. However, it is important to recognize that the creature's actions are a response to the rejection and isolation he experiences as a result of Frankenstein's actions. The creature's plea for happiness and virtue demonstrates his capacity for redemption and contrasts sharply with Frankenstein's lack of remorse and empathy.

In conclusion, while both Victor Frankenstein and his creature exhibit monstrous qualities, Shelley ultimately portrays Frankenstein as the more monstrous figure due to his cruelty, lack of empathy, and moral transgressions.