Close Reading Post #2

The imagery in Frankenstein is something that is very specific. Imagery is what tells a lot of the story. From the scene of the monsters creation to the monsters appearance described in such detail, the imagery really brings this story to life. It’s also important that we link motive to image. It seems to be the driving force behind several decisions that are made. Elizabeth is adopted into the Frankenstein family because she’s pretty (Ch 1 P 6).  A lot of what the monster experiences is due to his appearance. The monsters appearance as described is incredible grotesque (Ch 5 P 2). His appearance is why he decided to approach the blind and unprejudiced neighbor. It is why he was shot and it was also why he was forced to live in isolation. Most times the monster judges himself, it is based on appearance alone. Imagery also is reflective of what goes on in the story. For example, after the monster kills William, he stated that the weather reflected the horrendousness of the crime (Ch 7 P 24). While imagery is a pretty broad theme, every bit of detail regarding imagery is important. The description of the monster’s yellow and almost transluscent skin, black hair and shiny is very specific and very necessary for understanding how hideous he looks and why he is treated the way he is by fearful humans.