According to Webster's Dictionary, a monster is "a person of unnatural or extreme ugliness, deformity, wickedness, or cruelty." According to this definition, a monster is made up of both inward and outward characteristics, some of which they are born with and some of which they develop. Even from the beginning of Marry Shelley's Frankenstein, the creature possesses the outward characteristics of a monster. In addition to his yellow eyes and black lips, the monster has superhuman strength and speed, which only further separates him from the norm. The one thing that he is not born with is his personality and desire for revenge. Just like a human's personality, the monsters" is shaped though experience and time. Only after he is isolated and rejected by society does the creature show his rage towards humans through criminal acts. Ultimately, he becomes a monster because society treats him as one.
As the monster reminisces about his past, he says that his "soul glowed with love and humanity" (Shelley, 97). Just as humans today are born innocent and pure, so is the creature. When Victor sees the creature in the night, the monster has one hand reaching out with a smile on his face. Although the monster is portrayed as a frightening image, this picture of his hand reaching out may be his first attempt at reaching for a companion, and an outward appearance of his kindness. When he enters into society, he is forced to discover life on his own, because Frankenstein abandons him out of fear. At this point, he has no knowledge of language or culture, the only thing that he knows is that he wants a companion. Upon his first visit into a village, he is delighted by the people and the village itself. He is interested in the way that they live and their interaction with one another. He is also fascinated by the moon and nature, specifically the birds. He seems to find peace and is completely intrigued by them.