第9章 山中遭遇

Mary Shelley

当“我”和怪物在大山里不期而遇后，“我”该如何面对它呢？

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I took a boat and went out on Lake Geneva.Why didn't I end my life then? Two things stopped me. My father was old and another death would probably kill him. And I had to stay alive—to keep my family safe from the monster.

Fear for my family and hate for my monster were with me day and night. I became ill again,and Elizabeth's love could not help me. I needed to escape for a while—to leave my unhappiness behind me. So I went to walk alone in the Alps. I hoped the wild beauty of the mountains would help me.

Slowly I became calmer among the beautiful mountains. I learnt to sleep again, and for days I did not see anybody. Then one morning I saw a figure coming towards me faster than any man could go. It jumped easily over the rocks and I saw with horror the monster that I had created. On his face was a look of deep sadness,but also of evil. At first I could not speak because I hated him so much. But at last I said,“You are an evil creature. I shall kill you if I can, because you have killed two people that I love.”

The monster's yellow eyes looked at me. “I am the unhappiest creature in the world, but I shall fight for my life,” he said. “I am bigger and stronger than you, but I will not start the fight. I shall always be gentle to you because you are my king and creator. You made me, and you should love me and be kind to me, like a father. William and Justine died because you did not love me. Why did you create me if you were not ready to love me?”

“We are enemies,” I said. “Leave me now,or let us fight until one of us is dead. You are a murderer. How can I be kind to you?”

“You say I am a murderer,” the monster said, “but you want to kill your own creature.Isn't that wrong, too? I ask you to do one thing for me—listen. Come with me to a warmer place, and listen to my story. Then you can decide.”

I thought carefully about what he had said.It was true that I had given him life but I had not given him love. I decided to go with him and listen to his story.

He took me to a mountain hut where he lit a fire. We sat down by the fire and he began to tell me his story.

Reading Check

What personality of the monster do the underlined sentences imply?

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