The Creatures Readings: Plutarch, Milton, and Goethe

• The monster gains access to three texts which he derives his first understanding of the world.
• After acquiring language and an idea of life and family from the DeLacey’s, he can now extend knowledge on a historical and cultural basis.
• Mary Shelley selected these books to enlighten the monster in specific ways and to enrich the thematic content of the novel.
• The texts were among her favourite reading and were texts that meant a great deal to the romantics.
• Especially in the case of Plutarch lives, the monster derives 'high thoughts'.
• The subjects of the lives are idealistic men, who founded the early classic republic.
• The monster learns of towns and cities where large groups live, discovering the idea of human society.
• The monster learns of the vicious behaviour of some men and comes to admire virtuous men and peaceful lawmakers.
• The sorrows of Young Werther by Goethe offer the creature new insight into emotions.
• The domestic setting of the novel appeals to the monster's experience of the DeLacey family.
• The monster sympathises with both the height of happiness and the depth of despair of the hero.
• The novel prompts the monster to ask questions of his own identity and destiny.
• Paradise Lose arises the monster's strongest feelings.
• The monster is fascinated by the story of the creator at war with his own creations.
• The monster compares himself with Adam, who unlike him enjoys the love and protections from his creator.
• The monster also compares himself with Satan, as he lacks this love.