Франкенштейн

           "BydegreesImadeadiscoveryofstillgreatermoment.Ifoundthatthesepeoplepossessedamethodofcommunicatingtheirexperienceandfeelingstooneanotherbyarticulatesounds.Iperceivedthatthewordstheyspokesometimesproducedpleasureorpain,smilesorsadness,inthemindsandcountenancesofthehearers.Thiswasindeedagodlikescience,andIardentlydesiredtobecomeacquaintedwithit.ButIwasbaffledineveryattemptImadeforthispurpose.Theirpronunciationwasquick,andthewordstheyuttered,nothavinganyapparentconnectionwithvisibleobjects,IwasunabletodiscoveranycluebywhichIcouldunravelthemysteryoftheirreference.Bygreatapplication,however,andafterhavingremainedduringthespaceofseveralrevolutionsofthemooninmyhovel,Idiscoveredthenamesthatweregiventosomeofthemostfamiliarobjectsofdiscourse;Ilearnedandappliedthewords,‘fire,’‘milk,’‘bread,’and‘wood.’Ilearnedalsothenamesofthecottagersthemselves.Theyouthandhiscompanionhadeachofthemseveralnames,buttheoldmanhadonlyone,whichwas‘father.’Thegirlwascalled‘sister’or‘Agatha,’andtheyouth‘Felix,’‘brother,’or‘son.’IcannotdescribethedelightIfeltwhenIlearnedtheideasappropriatedtoeachofthesesoundsandwasabletopronouncethem.Idistinguishedseveralotherwordswithoutbeingableasyettounderstandorapplythem,suchas‘good,’‘dearest,’‘unhappy.’

           "Ispentthewinterinthismanner.Thegentlemannersandbeautyofthecottagersgreatlyendearedthemtome;whentheywereunhappy,Ifeltdepressed;whentheyrejoiced,Isympathizedintheirjoys.Isawfewhumanbeingsbesidesthem,andifanyotherhappenedtoenterthecottage,theirharshmannersandrudegaitonlyenhancedtomethesuperioraccomplishmentsofmyfriends.Theoldman,Icouldperceive,oftenendeavouredtoencouragehischildren,assometimesIfoundthathecalledthem,tocastofftheirmelancholy.Hewouldtalkinacheerfulaccent,withanexpressionofgoodnessthatbestowedpleasureevenuponme.