Language as a Means of Emancipation in Shelley’s Frankenstein

ABSTRACT: Language is a means of communication in the first place, but there are also some other roles oflanguage like shaping the speaker’s character and identity which depend mainly on using language in order to berecognized. The creature in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein uses language brilliantly to redeem himself fromslavery and establish his own identity. In Frankenstein, what differentiates the creature from other monsters ishis competent use of language and capability to acquire it fast. Therefore, language paves the way for thecreature to access knowledge. The creature was deprived from accessing any kind of knowledge by VictorFrankenstein because knowledge means power. Hence, the focus of this paper is on the function of language asa means of emancipation. Moreover, the study inspects the effects of learning and using the language on thecreature’s side to land on the most prolific touches mainly the questions of slavery and the encountering with theother.

Key Words: Frankenstein, Knowledge, Language, Slavery, The Creature.