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I was a poor, helpless, miserable wretch; I knew, and could distinguish, nothing; but feeling pain invade me on all sides, I sat down and wept.
The monster speaks these words in Chapter 11 to describe the sensations he felt shortly after being brought to life and abandoned by Victor. At this point, he is entirely new to the world, and he doesn't understand how to protect himself from the cold or how to find food other than berries. He feels completely isolated and entirely helpless, like a child who has been thrown into the woods and now has to fend for himself. Because Victor ran from him instead of embracing him, the monster's first feelings are pain, misery, and confusion, instead of safety, acceptance, and curiosity, and this profoundly affects how he understands and interacts with the world.
One day, when I was oppressed by cold, I found a fire which had been left by some wandering beggars, and was overcome with delight at the warmth I experienced from it. In my joy I thrust my hand into the live embers, but quickly drew it out again with a cry of pain. How strange, I thought, that the same cause should produce such opposite effects!
Fire is an important symbol in Frankenstein, a powerful and dangerous element that the monster is both attracted to and intimidated by. In Chapter 11 he describes his first interaction with fire, which initially causes him delight but seconds later causes him pain; its warmth comforts him, but its burn teaches him that a source of good can also cause harm. This lesson reocurrs when he interacts with humans: he longs for the warmth of love and connection, but instead encounters pain from their rejection and cruelty.
Read more about fire as a symbol in the book.
The gentle manners and beauty of the cottagers greatly endeared them to me: when they were unhappy, I felt depressed; when they rejoiced, I sympathized in their joys.
Here, the monster recounts his bond with the De Lacey family, who he secretly observes from his hiding place near their cottage. The humans he meets before he stumbles upon the De Laceys are cruel and frightened of him, but as he watches De Lacey, Agatha, and Felix, he discovers that they are kind, gentle, and caring. They inspire empathy in him, one of defining traits of humanity.
