The Reading Room discussion

1. Do you feel more sympathy for the creature after hearing his side of the story? Why or why not?

2. How does Victor’s guilt start affecting the way he thinks and acts in Volume 2?

3. Both Victor and the creature feel super isolated—how does that shape the choices they make?

4. Do you think the creature is justified in asking for a companion, or is Victor right to be unsure about creating another one?

1. Yes, I do feel more sympathy for the creature. Hearing his side made him feel a lot more human. I even relate to him a little — especially the feeling of wanting acceptance from someone who’s supposed to care about you, but doesn’t. That rejection from his creator reminded me of having a father who didn’t really want to be involved. It made his loneliness and anger make more sense.
2. His guilt over William and Justine really messes with him in Volume 2. He starts overthinking everything and feels completely responsible for their deaths. That guilt basically pushes him into agreeing to make the female creature, because he feels like it’s the only way to stop more people from getting hurt. It drives his decisions more than logic does at that point.
3. Both of them make their choices because they feel completely alone. Victor agrees to make the female creature because he thinks fixing things will ease his guilt and make him feel less isolated. The creature wants a companion because he’s tired of being rejected, especially after the one family he cared about didn’t accept him. Their loneliness pushes both of them into decisions they probably wouldn’t make otherwise.
4. I think the creature is justified. He didn’t ask to be created, and Victor basically dipped the moment he came to life. Victor kind of acts like a deadbeat dad—if he didn’t want the responsibility, he shouldn’t have made him in the first place. Since he DID create him, he owes him some kind of care, support, or at least a chance at companionship.

1. The more i read into the story, the more i feel bad for the creature. He feels rejected by everyone and just wants a companion to talk to and wants to be treated like a human being. I don't blame him for the feelings he has towards his creator.
2. His consequences are starting to affect him and his loved ones around him. He feels responsible for their deaths and he starts to spiral in his emotions.
3. The creature and Victor are similar in the way that they make horrible decisions when they are overcome by isolation and loneliness. The creature commands Victor to create a companion for him or he will go on killing more people that he cares about. Victor considers this in hopes it doesn't backfire on him, potentially creating even more of a danger to human kind.
4. I understand how the creature would want a companion, although I do think creating another creature would be a bad idea. instead I think it would be better for Victor as the creator to take responsibility and build a relationship with the creature and figure out a grounds for boundaries and support.