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Frankenstein’s Monster Part 1 the story of Frankenstein Frankenstein is the name of a young scientist from Geneva, in Switzerland. While studying at university, he discovers the secret of how to create life. Using bones from dead bodies, he creates a creature that resembles a human being and gives it life. The creature, which is very large and strong, and is also extremely ugly, terrifies anyone who sees it. However, the monster, who has learnt to speak, is intelligent and has human emotions. He becomes lonely and unhappy when he cannot find any friends and soon he begins to hate his creator Frankenstein. When Frankenstein refuses to create a wife for him, the monster murders Frankenstein’s brother, his best friend Clerval, and finally, Frankenstein’s new wife Elizabeth. The scientist chases the creature to the Arctic in order to destroy him, but he dies there. At the end of the story, the monster disappears into the ice and snow to end his own life. Part 2 Extract from Frankenstein It was on a cold November night that I saw my creation for the first time. Feeling very anxious, I prepared the equipment that would give life to the thing that lay at my feet. It was already one in the morning and the rain fell against the window. My candle was almost burnt out when, by its tiny light, I saw the yellow eye of the creature open. It breathed hard, and moved its arms and legs. How can I describe my emotions when I saw this happen? How can I describe the monster who I had worked so hard to create? I had tried to make him beautiful. Beautiful! He was the ugliest thing I had ever seen! You could see the veins beneathe his yellow skin. His hair was black and his teeth were white. But these things contrasted horribly with his yellow eyes, his wrinkled yellow skin and black lips. I had worked for nearly two years with one aim only, to give life to a lifeless body. For this I had not slept, I had destroyed my health. I had wanted it more than anything in the world. But now I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and horror and disgust filled my heart. Now my only thoughts were, “I wish I had not created this creature, I wish I was on the other side of the world, I wish I could disappear!” When he turned to look at me, I felt unable to stay in the same room as him. I rushed out, and for a long time I walked up and down my bedroom. At last I threw myself on the bed in my clothes, trying to find a few moments of sleep. But although I slept, I had terrible dreams. I dreamt I saw my fiancée walking in the streets of our town. She looked well and happy but as I kissed her lips, they became pale, as if she were dead. Her face changed and I thought I held the body of my dead mother in my arms. I woke, shaking with fear. At that same moment, I saw the creature that I had created. He was standing by my bed and watching me. His mouth opened and he made a sound, then seemed to smile. I think he wanted to speak, but I did not hear. He put out a hand, as if he wanted to keep me there, but I ran out of the room. I hid in the garden and stayed there till morning, terrified by what I had done. Again and again I thought, “I wish I had not done this terrible thing, I wish I was dead!” You cannot imagine the horror of that face! I had seen him when he was unfinished – he was ugly then. But when he stood up and moved, he became a creature from my worst nightmares. 第五单元 弗兰肯斯坦的怪物 第一部分 《弗兰肯斯坦》的故事 弗兰肯斯坦是瑞士日内瓦一位年轻科学家的名字。还在上大学时,他就发现了怎样创造生命的秘密。利用死人的骨头,他制造出一个像人的怪物,并赋予了它生命。那个怪物异乎寻常地高大、强壮,并且极其丑陋,所有的人见了它都感到害怕。但是,怪物却有着人类的智力和情感,并学会了说话。由于找不到任何朋友,他感到非常孤独和难过,并开始憎恨创造他的那个人——弗兰肯斯坦。 当弗兰肯斯坦拒绝为他造一个妻子后,怪物杀害了弗兰肯斯坦的兄弟和他最好的朋友克莱瓦尔,最后,还杀死了弗兰肯斯坦的新婚妻子伊丽莎白。为了除掉怪物,弗兰肯斯坦追赶他到北极,但弗兰肯斯坦本人却死在了那儿。在故事的结尾部分,怪物在冰天雪地中结束了自己的生命。 第二部分 《弗兰肯斯坦》节选 我是在11月一个寒冷的晚上首次看到我的创造物的。它躺在我的脚边,我紧张不安地准备好了赋予它生命所需的设备。时间已是凌晨1点,雨点敲打着窗户。蜡烛即将燃尽,就在此时,借着微弱的烛光,我看见怪物睁开了黄色的眼睛。它喘着粗气,挪动着四肢。 该怎样描述我看见这一切发生时内心的感受呢?该怎样描述我费尽心血创造出来的这个怪物的模样呢?我曾尽力想把他创造得好看一些。好看?他是我看到过的最丑陋的东西!他黄色皮肤下的血管依稀可见。他头发是黑色的,牙齿是白色的。但却与他的黄眼睛、皱巴巴的黄色皮肤以及黑嘴唇形成了骇人的对比。 我忙了近两年,目标只有一个,将生命注入一具尸体。为此,我放弃了睡眠,累坏了身体。它一度是这个世界上我最想要的东西。现在我已经完成了创作,但梦想中的美丽已荡然无存,恐怖和厌恶充斥着我的心灵。现在,我惟一的想法是:“但愿我没有制造出那个家伙,但愿我身处世界的另一边,但愿我可以消失无踪!暠当他转过身来看着我时,我受不了和他呆在同一个房间里。我冲了出去,接下来的很长时间就在自己的卧室来回踱步。最后我和衣倒在床上,试图睡一会儿。尽管我睡着了,但是噩梦连连。 我梦见我的未婚妻走在城镇的大街上。她看上去健康而快乐,但是,当我亲吻她时,她双唇失色,犹如死人。她的脸变了,我感觉拥抱着的是我死去的母亲。我浑身战栗着吓醒了。就在那一刻,我看见了我创造出的怪物。他正站在我床边,看着我。他张开嘴,发出一个声音,然后像是笑了。我猜他想说什么,但我没听见。他伸出手来,好像是想拦住我,但我冲出了房间。 由于害怕,我藏身花园,一直呆到天亮。我一遍又一遍地想:“但愿我没有做这可怕的一切,但愿我死了!你无法想像那张脸有多可怕!当他还没有生命的时候,我看着他,只觉得他丑陋。当他站起来行走后,他就成了我最可怕的噩梦中的怪物。 |
