The monster finished the story of the people in the cottage. He liked these people very much. He learned about good and bad people from them. He wanted to be part of their world. He wanted them to love him.
But something happened in the month of August. One night, the monster went to the woods. He wanted to find food and wood for the fire. He found a portmanteau (a large bag made of leather for clothes and books) on the ground. He took the bag back to his small house.
Inside the bag, there were some clothes and three books. The books were in the language he learned at the cottage. One book was about a man named Werter. Another book was about the lives of famous leaders from a long time ago. The third book was called Paradise Lost.
The monster read these books all the time. The books changed the monster's feelings. Sometimes he was happy, but often he was very sad. He read about how people lived and how they loved. He began to ask himself many questions.
"Who am I?" he thought. "Where did I come from?" He did not have any answers. He felt very alone. He saw that he was different from other people. He was very big and very ugly.
The book about famous leaders taught him about great men. He learned about cities and countries. He learned about war and peace. He wanted to be a good person because of these stories. He admired the men who were kind and fair.
The book Paradise Lost was also very important to him. He thought it was a true history. He compared himself to the first man, Adam. God made Adam perfect and happy, but the monster was ugly and alone. Sometimes he felt like Satan because he was jealous of happy people.
The monster found some papers in the pocket of his coat. These papers were the journal (a book where a person writes their daily thoughts) of Victor Frankenstein. The monster read these papers carefully. He read how Victor Frankenstein made him in a laboratory.
Victor Frankenstein wrote that the monster was horrible. He wrote that he hated the monster's face. The monster was very angry and sad. "Why did you make me?" the monster cried. "Even you hate me!"
The monster looked at the people in the cottage. He saw that Felix and Agatha were happy. Their friend Safie lived with them now. They had more food and they were not poor. They were kind to each other every day.
Winter came again. The monster decided to talk to the family. He was afraid because he was so ugly. He decided to talk to Old De Lacey first. Old De Lacey was blind, so he could not see the monster's face.
One day, Felix, Agatha, and Safie went for a long walk. Old De Lacey was alone in the cottage. He played music on his guitar (a musical instrument with strings). The monster felt very nervous. His heart beat fast.
The monster knocked on the door. "Who is there?" asked Old De Lacey. The monster entered the cottage. He told Old De Lacey that he was a traveller. He said he needed to rest by the fire.
Old De Lacey was very kind. "I am blind," Old De Lacey said. "I cannot give you food, but you can sit here." They talked for a long time. The monster said he had no friends or family.
The monster told Old De Lacey about some "friends." He said these people were good, but they were afraid of him. He said they did not like his face. Old De Lacey said, "Do not be sad. I will help you."
The monster was very happy. He felt hope for the first time. But then he heard the others coming back. Felix, Agatha, and Safie were at the door. The monster was very scared.
The monster took Old De Lacey's hand. "Save me!" the monster cried. "You are the friends I am looking for! Please do not leave me!" Old De Lacey was very surprised. "Who are you?" he asked.
Then the door opened. Felix, Agatha, and Safie saw the monster. Agatha fainted because she was so scared. Safie ran out of the cottage. Felix was very angry.
Felix ran to the monster. He pulled the monster away from Old De Lacey. Felix hit the monster many times with a heavy stick. The monster did not hit Felix back. He was too sad to fight.
The monster ran out of the cottage. He went back to his small house in the woods. He felt a lot of pain and anger. He was alone again, and his heart was broken.