Nature and Nurture constantly combat one another and significantly define who we
are. The novel Frankenstein written by Mary Shelley provides many examples of
Nature and Nurture. Which one is more effective when Victor Frankenstein creates
his monster, then abandons it to leave it miserable and care for itself? Several
attempts to give and find love, rejection and misery transforms the monster into a
fiend.
Frankenstein's monster starts to have natural feelings to hurt and destroy
those who hurt and ruined him, especially Victor. The creature is now nourished to
think he can treat everyone with the utmost hatred and torture. Throughout the book,
Mary Shelley is trying to show us that Nurture overrules the idea
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Because of this gesture he acted, the girl's father shot at the creature,
showing him the outcome of his kind actions.
Overtime, continuous reactions like this was what developed the monster into the fiend he
had engulfed. Page 18 of Mary Shelley's book proves this when the creature spoke “This
was then the reward of my benevolence! I had saved a human being from destruction, and
as a recompense I now writhed under the miserable pain of a wound which shattered the
flesh and bone, inflamed by pain, I vowed eternal hatred and vengeance against all
mankind,” (pg 18).
As time passed day by day, frankenstein's monster decides it is only fair to himself
happiness, that he had found himself a companion to fill that everlasting void that he carried
of abandonment and misery.
In this doing, he plotted his potential companionship on a young boy he encountered
named William. Upon receiving the hate filled comments from the boy, his memory of
eternal vengeance reappeared and haunted his most innocent thoughts and evil
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“I declared everlasting war against mankind, and more than all, against him
who formed me and sent me forth this insupportable misery,” (pg 17).
From the beginning, Victor Frankenstein had created a human form too eventually betray
and deny it for how it had appeared. From this moment followed by the neglect of all
mankind, it became finalized that first innocent creature was now and forever an evil
hearted spirit. It was claimed by the creature himself all he wanted was to feel loved, to feel
accepted so he can at last be happy. The conversation between the creature and Victor
makes this clear when the creature confronts Victor to make him a female just like him so
he can live a less miserable life as he would have someone to share happiness with.
Mary Shelley introduces the power and effects Nurture can produce when she uses the
monster as an example of the potential outcomes that are the side effects of poor nurturing,
which include deception, abandonment, hatred and
By the time of their death, both Victor and the creature has committed repugnant acts: Victor created a being out of corpses and then abandoned it and let it wreak havoc on the people he loved, the creature directly killed three people. But Victor tells Walton that, “During these last days I have been occupied in examining my past conduct; nor do I find it blamable […] nor do I know where this thirst for vengeance may end” (269). Victor is not able to see past the metaphorical clouds that seem to shroud his mind from seeing the truth. Furthermore, Victor is not able to let go of his hate for the creature. In contrast, the creature admits, “But it is true that I am a wretch. I have murdered the lovely and the helpless” (275). The creature is able to recognize that he has made mistakes and as a result he loathes himself. He tells Walton that, “You hate me, but your abhorrence cannot equal that with which I regard myself” (275). Although no amount of regret or sorrow can bring back the people that he has killed, the creature does acknowledge the evil of his actions, which in turn allow him to make come to peace. He is able to reconcile his vengeful feelings towards his creator and praises Victor by calling him, “worthy of love and admiration among men” (275). Both Victor and the creature have done committed actions against each
... When the Monster had not seen anything from Frankenstein for a while he went to go find him. He ended up on Walton’s ship standing in front of Frankenstein’s dead body (Shelley, 221). After the Monster realized that Frankenstein had died he no longer felt the need that he should live. He stated that if the one who had created him died then there will never be a creature like him to be made, so there is no reason for him to live (Shelley, 225). From here the Monster jumped out of the window and went to kill himself. The Monster knew that if Frankenstein died all hopes for another creature being created were gone. The Monster knew that if he did not have another creature like himself there was no point in living, so killing himself was the only other alternative in his eyes.
In chapter five, Victor comes face to face with his creation. He becomes horrified and disgusted with the creature, and therefore he abandons him.
There was no one left to provide the creature with companionship and was forced to isolate himself from society once again. When the family moved out of their cottage, the creature decided to go on his own adventure and seek out his creator. Upon doing so, the creature encountered a young girl who was about to drown near a lake. When the creature successfully saved the little girl, an older man confronted the creature and shot him in the shoulder. Because of what happened, the creature explained to Frankenstein that his, “...daily vows rose for revenge-a deep deadly revenge, such as would alone compensate for the outrages and anguish [he] had endured.” (Shelley 61). With this burning rage, the creature decided to take his revenge out on his creator, Frankenstein. One by one, Frankenstein’s relatives and closest friends were murdered by the creature, but his father’s death, was the final push. Frankenstein believed that he was the cause for all the murders and that he had to destroy what he created. He told Walton that, “...as [he] awakened to reason, at the same time awakened to revenge.” (Shelley 88). The only way to stop future deaths, was to hunt down the creature and kill him. Fueled with hatred, Frankenstein traveled for months in hopes of finding the creature. However, in his final days, Frankenstein was no longer able to continue his search, and passed away due to malnutrition. Upon discovering what had happened, the creature came out from hiding, and decided to explain his side of the story to Walton. Now that Frankenstein was dead, the creature decided to wander off and slowly die, isolated from the
There was no one left to provide the creature with companionship and was forced to isolate himself from society once again. When the family moved out of their cottage, the creature decided to go on his own adventure and seek out his creator. Upon doing so, the creature encountered a young girl who was about to drown near a lake. When the creature successfully saved the little girl, an older man confronted the creature and shot him in the shoulder. Because of what happened, the creature explained to Frankenstein that his, “...daily vows rose for revenge-a deep deadly revenge, such as would alone compensate for the outrages and anguish [he] had endured.” (Shelley 61). With this burning rage, the creature decided to take his revenge out on his creator, Frankenstein. One by one, Frankenstein’s relatives and closest friends were murdered by the creature, but his father’s death, was the final push. Frankenstein believed that he was the cause for all the murders and that he had to destroy what he created. He told Walton that, “...as [he] awakened to reason, at the same time awakened to revenge.” (Shelley 88). The only way to stop future deaths, was to hunt down the creature and kill him. Fueled with hatred, Frankenstein traveled for months in hopes of finding the creature. However, in his final days, Frankenstein was no longer
He not only turned away the being he had brought into the world; he also denied the creature companionship, friendship, and happiness while continuing to seek his own. Victor gained new purpose and even on his deathbed holds to the principle that he is justified in desiring the death of his enemy. Moment before his death he turns to Captain Robert Walton and says, “I feel justified in desiring the death of my adversary. During these last days I have been occupied in examining my past conduct; nor do I find it blamable” (156). He even begins to lose the small amount of compassion he had for the creature’s struggle.
Victor, at first sight of the Creature, abandons and leaves him to survive on his own. This is insignificant to the creature at the time, but later causes the Creature to have bitter feelings towards Victor. After the Creature discovers Victor’s notes, he becomes enraged, and incriminates Victor for the victimization that he faces; hence accusing him as a perpetrator of cruelty. Through the accusation of Victor one can see that the Creature believes that Victor should be held responsible, and owes the Creature a favor. Additionally, Victor double-crosses the Creature after obliging to create a mate for the Creature. These actions of betrayal demonstrate how Victor is a perpetrator of cruelty and how the Creature is his victim. Victor’s unintentional cruelty reveals how he only wanted what was best for himself and human kind. Victor’s betrayal is seen as an action of cruelty by the Creature, and consequently delivers the final blow that instigates the retaliation of the
American psychologist and well renowned author Jerome Kagan states “Genes and family may determine the foundation of the house, but time and place determine its form.” The topic of nature vs. nurture is highly known to the English literature community and is classified as a major aspect of gothic works. In the novel Frankenstein the author Mary Shelley uses the monster’s constant rejection from society to demonstrate that an individual’s traits are affected more by their environment and their surroundings than by nature.
Moreover, the Monster learns history and social systems from Felix’s instructions to Safie, and becomes a rational, deep thinking being. All these actions of the Monster apparently show that nurture outweighs the nature of the Monster. Also, the story of the De Lacey family draws the significance of how nurturing determines one’s personality and characteristics. “The patriarchal lives of my protectors caused these impressions to take a firm hold on my mind; perhaps, if my first introduction to humanity had been made by a young soldier, burning for glory and slaughter, I should have been imbued with different sensations.
Man versus nature is a significant conflict in literature and in real life. This type of conflict is a problem in which nature is the antagonist, or villain, and the human protagonist , or good guy, is pitted against it. Nature is considered storms, climate, temperature, or the sea. It is also called man versus environment. This situation happens commonly in literature, such as books, the arts, such as paintings, and in life, now and earlier.
Despite their similarities, Victor and his creation differ greatly. Only after rejection does the creature turn to
“I now hasten to the more moving part of my story. I shall relate events that impressed me with feelings which, from what I was, have made me what I am” (Shelley 92). Frankenstein’s Creature presents these lines as it transitions from a being that merely observes its surroundings to something that gains knowledge from the occurrences around it. The Creature learns about humanity from “the perfect forms of [his] cottagers” (90). Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein offers compelling insights into the everlasting nature versus nurture argument. Her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote, “Treat a person ill, and he will become wicked.” Shelley believes that the nurture of someone, or something, in the Creature’s case, forms them into who they become and what actions they take. While this is true for Frankenstein’s Creature, the same cannot be said about Victor Frankenstein.
Victor never even fathomed the actual existence of the creature, somewhat resembling an unplanned pregnancy that was never emotionally and rationally dealt with even after the actual birth of the child. He certainly did not adequately prepare himself for parenthood.
As a result, the Creature becomes a wretched monster, who now has no sympathy for anyone or anything. The Creature becomes fixed on the idea of needing a companion, and due to this obsession, he turns Victor’s life upside down. The Creature is able to torment Victor by killing his family members, then quickly vanishing so Victor can not tell who or what he saw. The Creature and Victor finally meet again, and the Creature tells Victor of his stories and struggles. Throughout the novel, the Creature remains in the same state of being, he persistently harasses Victor and maintains a watchful eye on him.
Philosophers and scientists alike have debated for centuries whether a person’s character is the result of nature or nurture. In the writings of Thomas Hobbes, it is expressed that humans are endowed with character from birth, and that they are innately evil in nature. John Locke’s response to this theory is that everyone is born with a tabula rasa, or blank slate, and then develops character after a series of formative experiences. The idea that true character is the result of experiences and societal interaction is a theme deeply explored throughout Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Through different interactions with the monster, Shelley attempts to express that it is because of Victor’s failings as a parent and creator, because of the monster’s isolation, and because of society’s reaction to the monster that the monster has become evil. The monster’s character is a direct result of how he was nurtured, based on his experiences and circumstances, rather than his being innately evil from “birth.”