“It was as the ass and the lap-dog” (p. 81). Frankenstein’s monster recalls how he had felt looking in at the family in the cottage, and how much he longed to be their friend. He compares himself to the ass in the fable The Ass and the Lapdog. In this fable an ass is jealous of a man’s lapdog and wants affection from the man as well. The ass had noticed the lapdog’s actions and he tried to do the same; jumping on the man and licking him. Ultimately, the ass was beaten for this behavior even though his intentions were compassionate. Mary Shelley accurately compares her character to another from a well known fable. The monster is already educated enough to communicate in a language, let alone recall a fable.
“The Ass and the Lapdog.” Ancient History. 30 Aug. 2009. http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/bl_aesop_ass_lapdog.htm
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which is more significant -- the relating of the fable or the comparison between the events of the fable and the events of the creature's life?
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