Франкенштейн
Chapter 13
"Icannotdescribetoyoutheagonythatthesereflectionsinflicteduponme;Itriedtodispelthem,butsorrowonlyincreasedwithknowledge.Oh,thatIhadforeverremainedinmynativewood,norknownnorfeltbeyondthesensationsofhunger,thirst,andheat!
"Ofwhatastrangenatureisknowledge!Itclingstothemindwhenithasonceseizedonitlikealichenontherock.Iwishedsometimestoshakeoffallthoughtandfeeling,butIlearnedthattherewasbutonemeanstoovercomethesensationofpain,andthatwasdeath—astatewhichIfearedyetdidnotunderstand.Iadmiredvirtueandgoodfeelingsandlovedthegentlemannersandamiablequalitiesofmycottagers,butIwasshutoutfromintercoursewiththem,exceptthroughmeanswhichIobtainedbystealth,whenIwasunseenandunknown,andwhichratherincreasedthansatisfiedthedesireIhadofbecomingoneamongmyfellows.ThegentlewordsofAgathaandtheanimatedsmilesofthecharmingArabianwerenotforme.ThemildexhortationsoftheoldmanandthelivelyconversationofthelovedFelixwerenotforme.Miserable,unhappywretch!
"Otherlessonswereimpresseduponmeevenmoredeeply.Iheardofthedifferenceofsexes,andthebirthandgrowthofchildren,howthefatherdotedonthesmilesoftheinfant,andthelivelysalliesoftheolderchild,howallthelifeandcaresofthemotherwerewrappedupinthepreciouscharge,howthemindofyouthexpandedandgainedknowledge,ofbrother,sister,andallthevariousrelationshipswhichbindonehumanbeingtoanotherinmutualbonds.
"Butwhereweremyfriendsandrelations?Nofatherhadwatchedmyinfantdays,nomotherhadblessedmewithsmilesandcaresses;oriftheyhad,allmypastlifewasnowablot,ablindvacancyinwhichIdistinguishednothing.
