The De Laceys

The De Lacey family embody the innate goodness of humankind. They unknowingly play a key role in the upbringing of the Creature, because they are the ones the Creature looks to for an understanding of how to interact with and sympathise with others. In many ways, they can be seen to be the family that the Creature never had. Their simple happiness and tranquillity in each other’s company nurtures in the Creature a love for humanity, and establishes for him a framework for a successful existence amongst mankind. However, their horrible treatment of the Creature when they actually meet him is a reflection of the intrinsic prejudice against those who are physically different. The De Laceys seemed so good at their core, but the fact that they treated the Creature so horrifically is testament to an ingrained bias that Shelley so despises within her society.