A major theme of Frankenstein is the burden of conscience that knowledge brings. The parallel pattern of innocent childhood, to knowledge seeking adult, to miserable creature is shown in both Dr. Frankenstein and his Monster. For this blog I want to focus on the corruption of Frankenstein's Monster, and in some cases, point out similarities between his path and others.
The Monster had a particularly tough start to life, forced to provide for himself with no knowledge and no guiding hand. He describes his first experiences in the forest, "I was a poor, helpless, miserable wretch; I knew, and could distinguish, nothing; but, feeling pain invade me on all sides, I sat down and wept" (Shelley 68). At this point in the novel he's just a helpless creature, with no predications about the world or its inhabitants; and although he cries his first night, the next day brings him happiness in the new things he's able to observe in nature. It's at the point when he discovers fire, that he begins to enter his knowledge seeking phase. The act of acquiring knowledge is addictive to the Monster (paralleling his creator), he tests the different effects of the flame on various foods after he, to his discomfort, tests his hand. This knowledge building phase lasts almost until the end of his stay at the hovel. At this point in his development, the pains of knowledge begin to manifest, and the Monster, suddenly feeling the weight of his newfound knowledge, exclaims "I cannot describe to you the agony that these reflections inflicted upon me; I tried to dispel them, but sorrow only increased with knowledge. Oh, that I had for ever remained in my native wood, nor known or felt beyond the sensations of hunger, thirst, and heat" (Shelley 81). I think most readers can sympathize with the desire to go back to a time when they were more innocent, and the world was less complex.
Eventually, the Monster realizes that if he ever hopes for peace-of-mind, he must be able to share his knowledge with other people, in this case his educators in the cottage. This desire to share knowledge is mirrored in Victor Frankenstein, although the nature of the Doctor's knowledge is much more sinister, they both are separated from their would-be contemporaries by their inability to share what they know with others, lest they be rejected. However, Felix's violent reaction towards the Monster causes the beast to give up on his innocent ideas, and fully embrace the horrors that he has learned: emotions such as contempt, bitterness, and rage. As he comes to grips with his place in this world (the place of a monster), the resulting supposition of this knowledge and emotions becomes solidified by the actions of humanity against him. In simpler terms: as a person searches for who they are (as the Monster asked himself at least twice), if enough people treat that person like a monster, then a monster they will become.
I think that when the Monster embraces this role, he really becomes terrifying. One of his scariest moments is when he confronts Dr. Frankenstein after he (the doctor) destroys what would have been the Monster's mate, "Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful" (Shelley 116). Up to this point, the monster has been unsure, searching for meaning, but this meaning that he has ultimately found is extremely dangerous. By contrast, the ignorant and fearful monster that stuck his hand in the fire, has been replaced by a powerful creature who knows all to well the nature of mankind; thus understanding us to an extent that satisfies him, he does not fear us. After this turning point, the beast becomes much more the tormentor than the tormented, and such his corruption is complete.
Yea the monster's innocence, from the birth, grew rationally logic and educated within society. This would turn his satisfying power and desire eventually into death. The monster's innocence changes, determining his merit that is all satisfactory from the knowlege he optains through societies structures. The more the monster grows into nature, the more education he processes and analyzes based on how the villagers around him were educated through their own experiences. As he learns their way of life and meaning, and becomes satisfied through the knowledge he optains that turns to an immense desire that creates a sense of power. The monster comes to a question, "what was I," and he starts to feel a sense of not belonging which is the basis of society. Mimicking their social being for his greater knowledge and the more he found out and the happier he was, until he acknoledges the greater fortune in life. The monster states, when finding out his status as a monster, "I cannot describe to you the agony that these reflections inflicted upon me; I tried to dispel them, but sorrow only increased with knowledge" (Shelley 83). As he sees what he really is and the realms of the world through the eyes of society. Then like you said he becomes the tormentor solidifying his actions and desires of the not so innocent.
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