Frankenstein - How to learn

Frankenstein
Mary Shelley

For most people in society, learning occurs when others teach and demonstrate. However, the creature did not learn this way. After the creature's "birth", Frankenstein abandoned his creation. Because the creature essentially developed as an orphan, he did not benefit from the guidance of a mentor and teacher. The creature began his learning process with the basics such as differentiating his senses. This stage of his development resembled that of an infant; however, the creature learned at an accelerated pace.

After learning about his senses, the creature learned the basics of survival: food, and shelter. As in his other learning experiences, the creature learned through experience. "In my joy I thrust my hand into the live embers, but quickly drew it out again with a cry of pain" (Shelley, 72). In this action, the creature resembles a young child. Children learn through hands on experiences. Parents tell children that fires, or stoves will be hot and will burn, but the children may not fully understand until feeling the pain from the heat. In this instance in the novel, the creature felt the warmth radiating from the fire, but he did not fully understand the intense heat of the fire until he burnt his hand.

The creature also learned through observation. Perhaps the only mentors that the creature had were the family that he observed. He began to see the importance of words and communication. He also saw different emotions. He learned that other pains could exist besides physical pains. "I saw no cause for their unhappiness; but I was deeply affected by it" (Shelley, 77). After learning some of the basics of life and survival, the creature began to learn emotions and communication which enabled the creature to rise above animal status and into a level of humanity. Although the creature still frightened people, and he could not live in a civilization, the creature was more than just an animal in the wild.