The Nature Of Nature And Nurture In Frankenstein

The gothic fiction novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley centralizes on humanity and the qualifications that make someone human. The content of the novel Frankenstein depicts a monster displaying human traits that his creator Victor does not possess: empathy, a need for companionship, and a will to learn and fit in. Throughout the novel Shelley emphasizes empathy as a critical humanistic trait. The monster displays his ability to empathize with people even though they are strangers. On the other hand Victor, fails to show empathy throughout the novel even when it relates to his own family and friends.

The nature vs. nurture debate is a philosophical, scientific, and cultural, debate about what causes an individual’s actions, personality, and most importantly their behavioral traits. Nature can be defined as someone’s influence from genetic behaviors, while nurture is caused by someones environment and experience. Nature is how a person acts based on their genetic inheritance and some other biological factors, they have been proven to be an important factor in the development of many mental health conditions such as depression and being bipolar. Whereas nurture affect those mental health conditions where a person develops that illness depending on their environment. Frankenstein can be seen as a prime example of the Nature versus Nurture

Conversely, when the monster imagines his creator, Victor, he curses “‘his crimes & malice”’ thoughts of hatred and revenge consume him (Shelley 96). This dichotomy highlights the incompetence of Victor as a parent. This helps to reassert that the monster’s “wickedness originates not with his soul but his treatment,” (Ferguson). Victor’s negligence as a parent, a trait caused by his poor upbringing, caused the corruption of his

Duality is shown in Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, a gothic tale of a scientist whom looks to advance the life-giving qualities of mother nature. Through this novel, Shelley proves that good and evil in human nature is not always simple to define, and that everyone has both of these qualities within them. The duality of human nature is shown through the characters of Victor Frankenstein and his monster, who are both heroes in the novel while simultaneously displaying anti-hero qualities. Shelley forces the reader to sympathize with them both but also creates gruesome ideas of the two.

Afterwards, the author writes about the monster, later, enjoying the spring scenery. Happiness. This overflows the monster, as Shelley captures through this portion with imagery. With the sun defrosting his heart, the river of his life flowing- allowing him to receive enjoyment, and the earth not bombarding him with hurtful words/ actions; he experiences joy and liberation and, most importantly, being human. Sadly, all of this is taken away by a single bullet.

The Creature being abandoned, having to survive and be all alone makes him want to be accepted after spending his life so far alone and unwanted. The Creature thinks maybe if he just tries hard enough, maybe if he can learn their language, learn to act like a human, people can overlook all the differences. This is the extent that the Creature goes to for his desire to be accepted. It is similar what humans do to fit in, and this is what the Creature does to be accepted. He learns things about them and he tries to execute this by attempting to get the cottagers to accept him yet it turns into a fail.

The moment Victor Frankenstein successfully infuses life into his creation he is overcome with horror and disgust. Without further examination he is certain to have created a monster, not a human being (Shelley 35-36). However, despite his grotesque appearance, Frankenstein’s creature was not born malicious. During the first stages of his existence, unbeknownst to Frankenstein himself, his acts are motivated by innocence and virtue, which even earns him the title “good spirit” (79). Frankenstein did not create a monster.

There will always be a controversy amongst the human race whether or not humans are innately good. If so, then the influence of society plays a major role on maintaining one’s good will. The theme humans are innately good is evident in Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein through the actions and character development of the creature. Initially, the creature is innately good even though his creator abandons him, he continuously proves to be good through is acts of kindness and generosity, although, he is corrupted by rejection from society and his creator, turning him into a real monster.

In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein brings his creation to life and has to endure the repercussions of his actions. While Victor is in fact human, the question of whether the creature or Victor is more human still stands. Humanity is demonstrated as compassionate in the book and monstrosity is the opposite. The creature is more human because of his developed personality and desire to be human. Victor, although born into a humane family, evolved into everything bad about humanity; he developed obsession, resentment, and manipulated life to conform to his idealities.

Due to neglect and immediate abandonment during the beginning of his life, the creature develops a hostile attitude and seeks revenge on Victor Frankenstein. In response to the cottage dwellers attacking him, the creature exclaims “cursed, cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence of which you had so wantonly bestowed” and reveals his feelings “of rage and revenge” (Shelley 135).

The fictional horror novel of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is driven by the accentuation of humanity’s flaws. Even at the very mention of her work an archetypal monster fills one’s imagination, coupled with visions of a crazed scientist to boot. Opening her novel with Robert Walton, the conduit of the story, he also serves as a character to parallel the protagonist’s in many ways. As the ‘protagonist’ of the story, Victor Frankenstein, takes on the mantle of the deluded scientist, his nameless creation becomes the embodiment of a truly abandoned child – one left to fend for itself against the harsh reality posed by society. On the other hand, Walton also serves as a foil to Victor – he is not compulsive enough to risk what would be almost

The creature remains a figure of isolation in which the readers see due to him not having any friends or anyone to love. “The nearer I approached to your habitation, the more deeply did I feel the spirit of revenge enkindled in my heart”. Because of all the rejection he receives from everyone, he wants to get revenge on Frankenstein. He begins to kill all the people Frankenstein loves. The creature remains solitary and it starts to touch on the fact that nobody loves him because of his incongruous appearance.

The novel says, “I know not; despair had not yet taken possession of me; my feelings were not of rage and revenge. I could with pleasure have destroyed the cottage and its inhabitants, and have glutted myself with their shrieks and misery”(Shelley 97). The cottage that the Monster was near had a family living in it that were kind and polite. The Daemon is telling Frankenstein that after all that he’s been through, he could have killed them all out of anger; instead he didn’t want revenge, he just wanted to be loved. Later, when the daemon met the blind man and began speaking with him, Felix came into the room and pulled De Lacey away from the Monster.

The Relationship Between the Creature and the Creator Rough Draft Frankenstein written by Mary Shelley goes in depth to the theme of the relationship between the Creature and the Creator. Categorized as a gothic novel. Victor Frankenstein develops an interest in science after reading about the "wild fancies" of several noted alchemists who live hundreds of years before him. He maintains driven by ambition and scientific curiosity. His quest for absolute knowledge and power will eventually end his own ruin.

The unjust treatment that the creature received from humankind was harsh and unreasonable as he wasn’t allowed the opportunity to prove his intentions were far from malicious. His loneliness, isolation and injustice from those he tried to befriend turned him into an actual monster, evidently his perspective and personality changed after being excluded. The monster had been treated unfairly by humanity “I desired love and fellowship and I was spurned. Was there no injustice in this? … Am I to be thought the only criminal when all human kind sinned against me?”