The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-03-11


he only became cruel to compel the at
tention of his unnatural creator. He
must have a helpmeet, and he gives
every promise to become tractable and
virtuous if he can have his mate.
Frankenstein, feeling all the while
that he is really responsible for the
| murder of his brother, and poor JUS
| tine who had died for it, at first re-
fuses to create a helpmeet, but in time
seeks a secluded place of the Orkney
Islands, and proceeds with the cop
struction of the female complement of
| the MN. When nearing completion
| he becomes aware of the presence of
the monster. and SO repellant is the
| feeling that he destroys his work and
swears that he will never be a party
to the perpetuation of ttt> new genius
that he has himself introduced. The
monster now fully possessed with re-
venge, next kills a dear friend and
whilom-traveling companion Clerval,
who has just sought out his friend at
the Orkneys.
The circumstances are such that
Frankenstein is apprehended and ac-
cused of murder. He easily proves
H.
Here he is 10 marry his long time be-
trothed, Elizabeth Lavenza. The mon
ster at the Orkneys has left ringing in
his ears this sentence: Il viii be with
you on your wedding night The
marriage takes place and on that very
night she meets her death at the hands
or the monster. The death of his
father and other friends soon follows,
| IN.
and trankenstein after a period of in
sanity, devotes the remnant of his life
TO the eXtirpation of his created fiend.
He finds that the fiend has headed for
the polar regions, and starts out in pur-
suit where Wilton picks him up. thus
ending the by-play which has usurped
the original plot
wilton is soon threatened with mu-
tiny if he does not turn back. and
frankenstein, who can only hope to de-
stroy his creation by continual pro-
gress northward, pleads with the men
AT last, Wilton determines to turn
pach ana FrankenStein, who has grad
ually tailed, cannot bear to have his
scheme Of destruction thus foiled. He
attempts to leave the Ship the effort is
too great and he sinks to his death,
having exacted a pledge from Wilton
that he will destroy the monster.
Wilton soon after sees the monster
in the death room of the ship bemoan-
ing the death of his creator. He list
ems to the story of the monster and
though purposed to destroy him per-
mits him to escape with the assurance
tnat he Will do no more deeds of vio-
lence but will end his days in the
southern antipodes.
The length of my paper will permit
or but few comments. Evidently Mrs
Shelley started out with the thought of
mere mechanical man. She later
discovered the necessity of clothing
the creation with supernal powers
and the mechanical man becomes
demon. There is the usual mistake
OF making the creature vastly superior
to the creator. Frankenstein, aside
from his fatal knowledge of chemis-
try, is inexcusably weak.
Granted that the creation of a senti-
ent being by human hands was posi-
Die, the skill that created should have
had the accompanying discernment to
know that the creation would from,
the moment of its forced existence.
nave required the closest paternal at
tentlon The necessity of the sex
complement required but little discern
ment, and the after excuse that Frank
ensteln would be guilty of crime in
the perpetuation of a man-made race.
was really no excuse. The author
gives every indication that this crea-
ton was susceptible to the touch-stone
or love. His earnest penitence and
sincere mourning for his unnatural
father give every indication that hap
PLY parented, and happily mated the
monster might have become a master.
and he certainly would have easily
surpassed his weak and vacillating
Observation-Disclosures