Question

1. The creature learns a significant amount from Milton’s Paradise Lost: "Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence; but his state was far different from mine in every other respect. He had come forth from the hands of God a perfect creature... Many times I considered Satan as the fitter emblem of my condition, for often, like him, when I viewed the bliss of my protectors, the bitter gall of envy rose within me." Why is it dangerous that the creature read Paradise Lost as a true history? What if it had read other religious texts? What about strictly fictional works? What works would you have recommended to the creature for its education?

Answer 1

This question refers to the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. In this book, we learn of a monster or a creature that is created by a scientist. After the creature escapes, he wants to learn more about humans and the world, and he does so by reading Paradise Lost, which tells the story of Adam and Eve.

It is dangerous for the creature to read Paradise Lost as a true story because this is not the purpose of such a text. Paradise Lost is a story that is meant to be allegorical and symbolic. This can also be said of other religious texts, as they do not convey the reality of the world objectively. Therefore, the creature would not benefit much from reading them. As for fictional works, the creature would encounter a similar problem, as these stories do not necessarily tell facts. The creature, however, could benefit from reading books on history, biology, philosophy or other similar subjects, as these are more likely to give an accurate image of the human world.