Monstrosity and Frankenstein

How does Mary Shelley shape our response to ideas about monstrosity in Frankenstein? Monstrosity is a key theme raised in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Our responses towards monstrosity include sympathy towards the creature, spite towards the creator, questioning of who actually is the real monster (whether it be the creature, or Frankenstein himself) and the consideration of the Rousseau's idea of human's being born innocent until corrupted (turned monstrous) by society's ideals. Mary Shelley has effectively …

…in a way not relating to physical appearances, and the Romantic idea of a child being born innocent but turning monstrous through the corruption by society's ideals. She does this by using techniques such as the three level narrative structure to offer us a broader range/variety of perspectives, symbolism and imagery to create visuals and arouse emotions, and tone/word choice to dramatise certain characters and/or actions to portray an idea about monstrosity.