The tragedy of Frankenstein’s creature centers around the moment in which his desire of a mate is dashed upon the ground. While Frankenstein labors over his work in Scotland he battles with bouts of nausea at the thought of his actions whereas during his “first experiment, a kind of enthusiastic frenzy had blinded [him] to the horror of [his] employment” (V. 3 Ch. 2 pg. 189). This internal struggle sets up the disastrous moment where Frankenstein’s eyes alight upon the monster for the first time since the creation of their pact.
“A ghastly grin wrinkled his lips as he gazed on me, where I sat fulfilling the task which he had allotted to me…. his countenance expressed the utmost extent of malice and treachery” (V. 3 Ch. 3 pg. 191). Due to either his preconceived notions about the female’s future temperament, possibly murderous at a whim, or her perception of the world compared to that already exhibited by the male, Frankenstein looks up from the body and assumes the worst upon registering the eagerly awaiting ghoul.
Do you think that the expression of the monster was interpreted based upon the emotion of Frankenstein in assuming that inherent evil would imbue the female being or that the monster literally wore a devilish expression of contentment at this sight of Frankenstein at work? Consider the possibility that he may be gleeful at the prospect of forcing the perpetrator of his horrid existence to create for himself a partner in his image and relishing in the power to do so despite his vehement refusal at the outset of their recent meeting.