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My dearest Elizabeth -
You have doubtless wondered at the prolonged silence of your dear cousin, and I write at last to assure and also amaze you, for in my many months of long toiling, wherein you heard little of me, I was yet engaged in a project you can scarcely imagine. I write now to tell you of what I have accomplished by my intense labors, and I ask that you be assured that, however unimaginable, the images I relay to you now are not ones of fantasy.
What I share now is in utter confidence, and I beg that you not divulge the particulars of my work with our esteemed family until such time as I can assure my goals regarding it have been met.
I have, for nearly two years now, been in the construction of a new form of life. My
discoveries in natural philosophy have lead me to conceive of a means by which a new type of humanoid may be assembled, one which is an echo of the form of man given by God, but created by man's own hand alone. I will not detail my findings and specifics here, as they are not ready to pass into the hands of another until all repercussions of my work have been thoroughly discovered. But know that in my extended silence and absence, when I could visit nor write to my beloved home in Geneva, that I have been working day and night to see my project realized.
And so it was that I created the monster. He is like a man in his form, but at a much greater stature. I constructed him at a height of nearly 8 feet in order to make the finer details larger that I might assemble them correctly. But I realize too late that it was not possible to give him the beauty of man. Indeed, I had become, in my long hours, desensitized to the ghoulish ugliness of his visage. In all my delirious workings, I had never taken the time to ponder anything beyond my own eventual success, nor had it occurred to me during the laborious construction that my creation may be met by the horror and disgust of others. Such was the intensity of my fervor, that I took no consideration of these key points until the hour of completion had at last dawned upon me.
In waking, his countenance was so frightful that I nearly fainted away. Ironically, I believe it was only my own shock and horror that kept me from doing so. An urge rose in me; indeed, I could have fled my own creation at that very moment and shook from my feet the dust of this hellish path of discovery. But in my horror, I was also possessed of a scientific pride at the knowledge that this creature, which was until lately only a collection of hideous pieces, was now animated to life.
I concluded in that moment that if I were to abandon and abhor him, I who had looked upon his terrible visage for months on months and knew intimately the process and ends of his construction, who then could speak for this monster I had created? Surely he would never be accepted by man, doomed to rejection and hatred all the days of his wretched life until he be driven to madness or his own destruction. It was then that I swore to myself to take all responsibility for its doings, as a father would his child, and do all in my power to direct him on a path of goodness and not evil. Whence this path shall lead in the end, I do not know, but I will make every effort to ensure this new being's safety as well as that of my fellow man. As he is the first of his kind, I have determined to call him Adam.
He could not speak at all in the hours of his infancy, as strange as it may be to at all consider him an infant. His first utterances were of the greatest simplicity and ugliness, and it was in this that I first discovered his gentle nature, for these sounds appeared to distress him. Upon the realization that his efforts at speech were alarming and quite unlike my own, he quickly gave way to silence, but I observed that he listened to my own communications carefully.
Oh, dearest cousin! In reading this now you must think me mad, and perhaps I am. Perhaps in my feverish desire to achieve my own ends, I passed away from this world like a delirious mad man, and my writings now are but an imagining.
I must leave you for a time, but will send word when there is sufficient space to do so. I hope to send good tidings at that time.
Yours devotedly,
V. Frankenstein
==
Dearest Elizabeth -
Months have passed in the blink of an eye; I have been so preoccupied with my work once again that I can scarcely believe the seasons have changed around me. Your letters as as a drink of cool water to me, refreshing my senses and reminding me of the loving home that waits me in due time.
Our dear friend Clerval has arrived safely and settled himself into the learning of distant tongues, that he may someday travel to far lands and converse with their inhabitants. His progress is quite remarkable and I would have joined him for some time in this endeavor, but that I was already busy with my work.
You must wonder now if my previous correspondence was but a fever dream, written by a man too long without sufficient sleep. I can assure you that it was not.
Adam remains in my residence, though to date he has only made the acquaintance of a most accommodating Henry Clerval. I have discovered in these latest months that the monster is possessed of a keen intellect and is gentle in his daily toil. He has learned both speech and letters at a rapid rate, far outstripping any child or even adult student. He is most inspired by tales of the heroism of man, much like a child would be, but takes interest in worldly affairs and politics the same as any grown man. I am regularly still frightened by his terrible countenance, but knowledge of his gentle nature makes it more bearable and I endeavor not to be startled at the sudden sight of him. Clerval had thought me a prankster when I first asked that he meet with this being, and I could not blame him; under altered circumstance I would have thought much the same. Can you imagine his surprise and horror to find it was no jest, but factual truth! It took much assurance to restore him to his senses, after which he remained uneasy but for my good words. With subsequent visits, he has become less dumbstruck and has on occasion even manage to share some small conversation, much to Adam's happiness and encouragement.
He speaks most eloquently already, as would a learned man who has read and travelled. He is frightfully strong, perhaps as strong and fast as two or more of the most accomplished mortal athletes, but he utilizes his abilities with utmost kindness and wishes to aid me in all he can. He is oft inclined to despair at the sight of his miserable reflection, but I take care not to speak of such things to avoid allowing him to sink too deeply into his melancholy. He has expressed worry that he will be hated by mankind, reviled for his power and terrible face for which I bear all responsibility, but I have determined not to make introductions at the university until I can be perfectly assured of my plans to do so.
You may fear for me, but do not! With the passage of each day, I become more certain I have made all the proper calculations and that my decisions in his matter have been both prudent and merciful for all of us.
I look forward to imparting further good news of my discoveries.
Yours fondly,
V. Frankenstein
===
Dearest Elizabeth -
How pleased I was to receive your latest letters! To hear word of your doings at home, the most benign weather, father’s good health, the happiness of my family, brings me immense joy. Would that I could be with you in shorter order, but my work continues to be long.
I am in fine health for the time being. My daily stress has lately decreased as my companion’s aptitude becomes greater all the time. No longer must I keep watch as a father would his young child, and may trust instead that he will not become wayward in any way, as he has put faith in my instructions.
Monday last, I was able to put forth my first steps toward introducing Adam into society. My university associates met to discuss matters with me, during which time I was at last able to convey the fantastical story of my long project. As you can imagine, there was much doubt and shock at my words, and were I not so apparently sound of mind I do not doubt I would have been decried a lunatic by my peers. At length, they were persuaded to meet with my creation. It was as much a success as I could reasonably anticipate; their reactions were mixed, and one nearly flew into a rage at the sight. He condemned me as a mad scientist for creating such a being to unleash upon mankind, declaring that I had played God and would surely suffer the consequences of such a devastating decision. His peers were more goodly. Though frightened and some degree appalled, they were able to calm their colleague, at which time, Adam chose to speak for his own benefit. Though I do not believe my critic’s wariness and disgust fully dispelled, he seemed satisfied to hear the calm words of this behemoth being, and has for now agreed he will not disclose the nature of my work to any outside parties. They have collectively tried to dissuade me from attempting to incorporate such a being into the general public, but I remain firm in my goals.
Alas -- I have always known that it would be impossible for all people to accept my creation as he is, but facing the reality of this is much more deeply unpleasant than even my suppositions had imagined. Adam too was unsettled by this exchange, but has had many opportunities to discuss the nature of this rejection with me. I believe he is prepared, as am I, for the possibility of total rejection, though my hopes remain that some will be convinced of his good and kind nature in spite of his unimaginable appearance. I hope that you, too, my lifelong friend, can put good faith in both myself and my companion despite outward appearances.
Your faithful friend and cousin,
V. Frankenstein
===
Dearest Elizabeth -
Quite some time has elapsed since my last update, of which I shared my progress regarding Adam’s initiation into society. I write now to provide perhaps the last of these before I make arrangements to return to my family for respite.
As you may have supposed, I have now taken steps to introduce Adam to the kindly people of the township, many of whom I know by name and speak to in my daily tasks. It is with these same people I had begun the next steps, speaking to them more and more frequently of the good qualities of my dear friend who lives as a recluse. Having been made aware of his anxiety at introductions, owing to his large stature and abhorrent face, they assured me that my friend would not be so easily judged on such merits when I had already elucidated at length his many fine qualities. Though I did feel reservations and doubts regarding their words, I soon deemed it impossible to impress any greater explanation of his virtue upon them, and so I made my arrangements for Adam to meet the neighbors of my daily walks.
Failure that I am! A man of science is not prepared for the fickleness of human emotion. I do not doubt you now fear for me and my creation at these frightful words, but do not despair, for though my task was flawed and my efforts less than sufficient, all was not lost. Though all were affrighted at the appearance of this being they deemed a monster -- some even tried to turn to violence -- Adam’s resolve did not waver. I myself may have been reduced to fury by their poor behavior, but he is a more noble soul than I, and bore their burst hatred and ridicule. I demanded of them, were they not the very same individuals who had heard tales of my kindly friend, devoid of earthly beauty? Had they not offered their friendship before my words of his excellent nature? Had they not condemned the idea of so harshly rejecting a being whose face could not be chosen by himself any more than their own? Many were quieted by this. Many still remained angry at the appearance and origins of this creation. I see now that it is not possible to win over all man, for in him lies multitudes, not always given to honor or understanding. Still, the baker’s wife admitted her failings upon my remonstrations, and with her, some dozen others acknowledged their own contradictions.
Uneasily, most townspeople have begun to make peace with him, some more readily than others. I am impressed still by his nobility -- that one so imposing and indeed monstrous, whose own creation is owed to an impulsive and egotistical fool such as myself, can conduct himself so peaceably despite the cruelty that threatens him! Had I the smallest modicum of this nobility myself, perhaps I would not have brought such a being into the world to begin with. But he seems content to learn to live among people as he is, and though I cannot blame him for offering no friendship to those who hate and scorn him, he is still a greater man than I for not coming to blows instead. I believe he understands the miserable precipice I have left him upon: that to misbehave would only serve to solidify the prejudice of those that hate him and drive them to further deplorable conduct. Their minds are set. It is better than he spare them no further thought, as painful as I understand that to be both for him and for myself as one who calls him friend. He tells me of his great aspirations to be among man, to assist in their daily lives in any small way that he can, and to offer his eloquent words to hearten them and make lighter their toils, in the hope he may someday earn their trust and affection.
I believe he shall, if not from all people, from those whose esteem he would value most. I have made mistakes and I have no doubt I will make many more, but I will do as Adam has done and take care to conduct myself as best I can with what I have learned. I do not intend to make any more such creations, and Adam too has deemed this to be the correct path. We shall confide in each other, at the very least, and he may know that I am one person in whom he can unfailingly trust. I burned my research notes just this past evening. Their pyre has released the soul of my arrogant ambition.
Woe upon the monstrous version of myself that might have abandoned this peaceful being! I weep to imagine him. I weep more still to think that Adam’s efforts among man may have been more poorly enacted than even my own meager efforts have been, and that he may have come to harm. In spite of all my failings, I can at least comfort myself by the knowledge that I have made every effort to protect and support him in this world I have made him enter into.
In the next fortnight, I intend for us to undertake the journey back to Geneva. My dear cousin, who has borne my frightful secret this long year: please see to it that my father and brothers receive word of my excellent traveling companion, with whom they could trust their very lives. Ensure that they understand he is a being of exceptional kindness and greatness, more than equal to the earthly beauty he lacks. Tell them not to fear a monster for its face, but for its conduct, of which I can attest there are no monstrous doings.
In turn, I have told him much of each of you. He looks forward to the placid lake and the excellent library of our home.
We shall see you soon, as I expect the affability and goodness of my loving family will be afforded to my friend in much the same way it is afforded me. It turns out I am to some degree a monster myself.
Your dearest monster,
V. Frankenstein