Final answer:
The creature reveals himself to M. de Lacey because as a blind man, he cannot see the creature's appearance and may offer acceptance based on shared humanity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The creature chooses to reveal himself first to M. de Lacey in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein because he believes he will have a better chance of acceptance if he is not seen. M. de Lacey is blind and therefore cannot be prejudiced by the creature's horrifying appearance, which has consistently spurred fear and rejection from those who can see him. The creature longs for companionship and understanding, and he carefully observes the De Lacey family, becoming attached to them and learning language and human ways through their unwitting instruction. By introducing himself to the blind patriarch alone, the creature hopes to communicate and connect on the basis of their shared humanity, stripped of the visual barrier that has so far dictated his interactions with others.