Франкенштейн
Chapter 4
Inmyeducationmyfatherhadtakenthegreatestprecautionsthatmymindshouldbeimpressedwithnosupernaturalhorrors.Idonoteverremembertohavetrembledatataleofsuperstitionortohavefearedtheapparitionofaspirit.Darknesshadnoeffectuponmyfancy,andachurchyardwastomemerelythereceptacleofbodiesdeprivedoflife,which,frombeingtheseatofbeautyandstrength,hadbecomefoodfortheworm.NowIwasledtoexaminethecauseandprogressofthisdecayandforcedtospenddaysandnightsinvaultsandcharnel-houses.Myattentionwasfixeduponeveryobjectthemostinsupportabletothedelicacyofthehumanfeelings.Isawhowthefineformofmanwasdegradedandwasted;Ibeheldthecorruptionofdeathsucceedtothebloomingcheekoflife;Isawhowtheworminheritedthewondersoftheeyeandbrain.Ipaused,examiningandanalysingalltheminutiaeofcausation,asexemplifiedinthechangefromlifetodeath,anddeathtolife,untilfromthemidstofthisdarknessasuddenlightbrokeinuponme—alightsobrilliantandwondrous,yetsosimple,thatwhileIbecamedizzywiththeimmensityoftheprospectwhichitillustrated,Iwassurprisedthatamongsomanymenofgeniuswhohaddirectedtheirinquiriestowardsthesamescience,thatIaloneshouldbereservedtodiscoversoastonishingasecret.
Remember,Iamnotrecordingthevisionofamadman.ThesundoesnotmorecertainlyshineintheheavensthanthatwhichInowaffirmistrue.Somemiraclemighthaveproducedit,yetthestagesofthediscoveryweredistinctandprobable.Afterdaysandnightsofincrediblelabourandfatigue,Isucceededindiscoveringthecauseofgenerationandlife;nay,more,Ibecamemyselfcapableofbestowinganimationuponlifelessmatter.
