Re: the good monster

"Earlier examples: I think you're overlooking a wealth of tragic monsters in mythology, particularly Greek mythology. Many of the monsters were transformed into their monstrous state because of circumstances beyond their control (e.g. Scylla being the object of Glaucus's affections made Circe jealous, and in revenge she transformed Scylla into a monster.) Though I don't suppose you can really she was a good monster, just a tragic one. Frankenstein though may be the first example (and certainly it's the finest example) of a monster which achieves redemption by the end."

One might also say that traditional vampires were (mostly) good people who were transformed into vampires - but the idea that these people retained some of their goodness in the face of an overwhelming need to drink blood is relatively new. Frankenstein's monster is a rarity in that he has good intentions while a monster, and strives to behave ethically throughout. I don't know if he is the first, but he is the first I can think of offhand.

Of course, this may also be a function of Frankenstein's monster being a character who is wrongly hated and feared. There are older non-human characters who are good or indifferent to humanity, but I cannot think of any that are both good to humanity and feared by humans. Those older characters who are wrongly feared and hated are humans (such as Shylock in "The Merchant of Venice").

But, there is a wealth of literature in the world, so I am probably missing something. Still, they do not seem to have had an enduring popularity.