So, we left off with Victor Frankenstein sick with guilt and horror over the being he created. Volume 2 picks up with him trying to forget it all, but fate (and the Creature) has other plans.

The Story

The Creature tracks Victor down in the mountains and forces him to listen. We get the Creature's entire life story from the moment he opened his eyes. He describes learning about the world alone, hiding and watching a kind family (the De Laceys) from a shed, and teaching himself to read and speak by observing them. He's intelligent, sensitive, and desperately wants connection. But every time he tries to reach out, his terrifying appearance makes people scream and attack him. This constant rejection twists his initial goodness into rage. He makes Victor a terrible offer: create a female companion for him, or he will destroy everything Victor loves.

Why You Should Read It

This volume is the soul of the novel. Mary Shelley gives the so-called 'monster' a voice, and it's powerful. You see the world through his eyes, and it's impossible not to feel for him. It turns the story from a simple horror tale into a complex tragedy about parenthood, responsibility, and society's cruelty to those who are different. Victor looks worse and worse as the 'parent' who ran away from his child. The real horror isn't the Creature's strength; it's the pain of being utterly alone.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves a story that makes you think. If you enjoy complex characters, moral gray areas, and classic tales that are way deeper than the movies make them seem, this is your book. It’s essential reading, not just for Gothic horror fans, but for anyone interested in the timeless question: who is the real monster here?