Livorno, in Italian. Leghorn was the major port of Tuscany, with a large and thriving
English community of traders; hence the anglicized name. It would be a logical refuge
for someone looking to book passage to the eastern Mediterranean.

This is the major departure from the 1818 text, indicative of Mary Shelley's wish
to keep her novel concentrated not on Victor's family relations, but, instead, on
the sense of abject isolation he bears in his psyche. Most critics who have compared
the texts prefer the appropriateness of this extensive shift of focus.

These works are written, respectively, in Renaissance English, classical Latin, and
modern German. Fortunately for the Creature, they have all been translated into French,
which is of course the language the Creature has acquired through the De Laceys.

Although the tonality is subtle, the Creature's education along with Safie seems to
have a bonding effect, increasing his original attachment to her. In two months' time
the linguistic disadvantage that is a shared mark of their alienation is assuaged,
preparing them simultaneously for what should be a full social integration.

That is, the language spoken is German, not the French used by the De Laceys and the
Creature. This relapse appears to bear a symbolic connotation, as the Creature, who
had seen his efforts to acquire language as the key to his being accepted within human
society, is suddenly plunged once again into linguistic incomprehension.

Again, the Creature uncannily picks up on the timbres of Victor's meditations. Compare,
for instance, the first paragraph of this second volume (II:1:1), where Victor reviews
what he considers is a "blasted" existence. There his remorse (note) has much the
same deleterious and lasting effect that the Creature here attributes to knowledge.

A highly resonant shift of language. Elizabeth is forced back on intuition in the
same manner as Victor had been on his return to Geneva (I:6:25). Given the miscarriage
of justice perpetrated by those who convicted Justine on the basis of circumstantial
logic, Elizabeth's intuitive knowledge of the heart seems a preferable means by which
to organize—or to transcend—social institutions. And yet, the contrasting case of
Victor's passion for revenge would suggest how unpredictable, and even dangerous,
such a course might be.

As was the case three paragraphs earlier, here the Creature evokes essential Enlightenment
values, twice privileging the notion of sympathy, but the affirmations are so hedged
as to be ominous.

In the ongoing education of the Creature this is the point at which he is first able
to conceptualize that refinement of affection that constitutes kindness. As with much
of the ongoing development of his awareness, there is an ironic undertone here, however,
since he will never experience the sort of solicitude that, despite his poverty and
blindness, is the elder De Lacey's daily expectation and comfort.

These exact words were uttered in the previous chapter when the Creature described
burning down the De Lacey's cottage (II:8:13 and note).