Question

In the Frankenstein poem by Edward Field, lines 13-17 indicate the blind man's welcoming of the monster. What possible reason might the blind man have for doing so? Using the RAC (Read, Analyze, Contextualize) method, determine the blind man's motivation.

a) The blind man welcomes the monster because he perceives the monster's benevolent nature.
b) The blind man welcomes the monster as he recognizes the monster's loneliness and seeks companionship.
c) The blind man welcomes the monster due to his inability to judge the monster based on his physical appearance.
d) The blind man welcomes the monster because he empathizes with the monster's plight of being rejected by society.

Answer 1

The blind man in Edward Field's poem may welcome the monster because he cannot judge by appearance and senses other qualities, or because he empathizes with the monster's rejection by society.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the poem by Edward Field, the blind man's reason for welcoming the monster can be analyzed using the RAC method. Considering the evidence from lines 13-17, one can deduce that c) the blind man welcomes the monster due to his inability to judge the monster based on his physical appearance. Being blind, the man is not influenced by the grotesque features that repel others and can therefore sense the creature's other qualities, such as a desire for companionship or a benevolent nature.

Furthermore, embracing the monster might also reflect d) the blind man's empathy with the monster's plight of being rejected by society. The blind man, likely no stranger to marginalization himself, understands the pain of isolation and the monster's yearning for acceptance. Thus, the blind man's kindness may stem from a deep understanding of the monster's social ostracization and his own personal experiences.