In Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein, the creature argues that his destructive nature resulted from suffering rather than from an innate tendency toward evil.
Which quotation from the novel most effectively supports this claim?
For a command-of-evidence question, divide the claim into its essential components and evaluate whether each quotation supports all of them. Choose the evidence that most directly establishes the complete relationship in the claim rather than a choice that merely provides related context.
Hints
Break the claim into parts
Look for evidence addressing both the creature’s original nature and the cause of his later transformation.
Distinguish rejection from transformation
A quotation showing that the creature was rejected may provide relevant context, but the strongest evidence will explain what that suffering did to him.
Look for a direct contrast
Consider whether a quotation contrasts what the creature was initially like with what he later became.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify both parts of the claim
The best evidence must indicate that the creature was not originally evil and that suffering caused him to become destructive.
Evaluate the partial evidence
The first quotation concerns the lasting influence of knowledge. The second suggests that the creature has been unjustly rejected, but it does not clearly establish his original goodness or explain how suffering changed his nature. The third shows that knowledge increased his awareness of his isolation, but it does not connect that suffering to destructive behavior.
Select the complete evidence
The final quotation states that the creature was once “benevolent and good” but that “misery made” him a “fiend.” This contrast directly presents suffering, rather than innate evil, as the cause of his transformation.