While many scientists contributed to the nature versus nurture argument in the past, it is a topic greatly debated today. Modern scientists agree that a mixture of nature and nurture contributes to growth and development. However, scientists in generations past agreed that nurture was the most important factor in growth. Likewise, the effect of nurture on nature argument is prevalent to describe the fall of the monster in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein where the monster’s growth results from the hostile environment he lived in, the fact that he was forced to teach himself the ways of life, and the base nature provided for a combination of the factors mentioned before which all contributed and built upon one another. Firstly, the environment and
For instance, the monster states “[Language] was indeed a godlike science, and I ardently desired to become acquainted with it (Shelley 110)” where language and communication fascinated him enough that it compelled him learn it in order to assimilate into society. This ability to learn language is genetic as upheld by the argument presented in “Nature or Nurture”. They state that although grammar acquisition is genetic-an inbuilt ability to learn grammar without anyone teaching it,- nurture is highly important in developing all parts of language, such as vocabulary and accent (“Nature or Nurture” 3)”. This is seen in Frankenstein where the monster learns language and communication by observing the DeLacey family and perfects it to the extent that Mr. DeLacey asks and assumes that the stranger/monster is his native countrymen and French due to the his accent (Shelley 134). This lack of a parent figure that is able to nurture him and the circumstances surrounding his abandonment lead to the monster having to learn how to communicate by himself, further contributing to his isolation and an absence of a loving
He considers that “...this was the hour and moment of trial, which would decide my hopes or realize my fears (Shelley 134).” Unfortunately for him, “Who can describe their horror and consternation on beholding me?...in a transport of fury, he dashed me to the ground and struck violently with a stick (Shelley 136).” The DeLaceys reject and abandon him despite his best efforts at effecting their opinions and acquiring their acceptance, they also reject him. Perhaps this would have been different if the monster found compassion in another part of the world as presented by Allan Horwitz, of Rutgers who argued “What would the genetic studies show if conducted in modern Russia, ancient Rome, or 15th-century Mongolia? ‘The sweep of environmental variation is huge’ he says, yet the new studies capture just a tiny, Western corner of it (“The Nature-Nurture” 5).” This shows how different the monster’s and Victor’s life would have been if a different place, era or family factored into their lives. However, aggression has been linked to genetics. In fact, a researcher found that 52 characteristics, including aggressiveness, have been found to be partially heritable (“Nature-Nurture” 2) and “a gene associates with levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin
Are nature and nurture required when creating a person? In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the nature vs. nurture discussion is put to the test by the actions of the main character Dr. Frankenstein's creation: a monster. In the novel Dr. Frankenstein is enthralled with the scientific creation of life and creates what he thinks will be a human but actually turns out to have the makings of a monster. Dr. Frankenstein is terrified by his creation and abandons it by running away and leaving it locked up. The monster breaks out of Dr. Frankenstein's confines and goes into the world to explore in his surroundings and hates his creator for not caring for him. By looking at environmental effects on a child's intellectual ability to learn, and a child's inherent sense of direction it is apparent that at birth the human mind is a blank slate.
In Frankenstein, various themes are introduced. There are dangerous knowledge, sublime nature, nature versus nurture, monstrosity, and secrecy and guilt. I chose a main theme as nature versus nurture. Nature is some traits that a person is born with, and nurture is an environment that surrounds a person. The novel indirectly debates whether the development of individual is affected more by nature or by nurture through Victor and the Monster.
The nature vs. nurture discussion is extremely vital in Blessed Virgin Shelley’s novel Frankenstein. Victor Frankenstein and so the creature he creates every have academic degree innate nature that factors into each of their personalities. Frankenstein and so the creature unit of measurement subjected to 2 really totally different nurturing styles. although every nature and nurture unit of measurement necessary throughout the novel, the character argument is guilty for the season of Victor Frankenstein, whereas the nurture argument is guilty for the season of the creature. Shelley makes this idea clear to the reader through her powerful words once describing Victor’s and so the creature’s personalities.
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.
For nearly 2 centuries Mary Shelleys Frankenstein has been considered by many to be the ultimate human vs monster conflict. However what makes someone a “monster”? Appearance? Character traits? Since the creature was born as an outsider humans neglected him and he becomes malicious. In the beginning an overly ambitious victor creates an imperfect creature. Since he is neglected by his creator as he is born an outsider he faces societies shunning. This causes him to take his wrath out on victors family. So the question is was the creature really a monster.
“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.
On the other side of the argument, the nurture proponents are certain that the environment in which we are raised holds far greater sway with the people we become. This argument can even be traced back to biblica...
Nature versus Nurture is the name of a long running debate on whether an individual’s behavior is determined by their genes or by how they were raised. John Locke famously held the view that humans had a “blank slate”, which means that human’s personality and character traits are determined by a person’s environment and what they experience. But, many argue against this: for instance, twins are raised similarly, but can have completely different personalities. The real question is this: are people born monsters, or do they become monsters? In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein and in Oscar Wilde’s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, both authors provide a clear warning of what makes a monster: society’s superficial nature creates monsters, and
Andrew Lustig proposed a great question to the readers of Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, “How far should we go in out efforts to alter nature, including human nature? As stewards of God’s creation what are our responsibilities?” (Lustig 1) This question results in theme of nature vs. nurture in the novel. The nature vs. nurture debate is an important topic in Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein. The two central characters, Victor Frankenstein and the creature that he creates; both, characters were raised differently. The nature and the nurture of their upbringing can be a cause of why they are, the way they are. Victor and his creature are subject to very different nurturing styles. Shelley also incorporates the representations of light and fire. This representation is key to the nature vs. nurture discussion in the novel.
of the nature - nurture debate than did Freud, viewing nurture as equally important in
In the novel "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley, the relationship of external apperence and internal feelings are directly related. The creature is created and he is innocent, though he is seaverly deformed. His nature is to be good and kind, but society only views his external appereance which is grotesque. Human nature is to judge by external apperence. He is automatically ostracized and labeled as a monster because of his external apperence. He finnaly realized that no matter how elequintly he speaks and how kind he is, people will never be able to see past his external deformities. Children are fearful of him, Adults think he is dangerous, and his own creator abandons him in disgust. The creature is treated as a monster, therefore he begins to internalize societies view of him and act the like a monster.
The nature vs. nurture controversy has been one of the oldest and most incessant debates throughout history. The disputation of this debate has generated numerous hypotheses, and explorations by various researchers, however, it has not been clearly determined as to whether a person is biologically determined or whether they are shaped by the environment. Nature’s theory holds that a person’s mental ability is sustained by what he or she is born with genetically. Conversely, the argument that a person’s environment plays a large role in his or her mental aptitude is nurture. Despite the numerous and overwhelming experiments that have been fulfilled by theorists who support the nature theory, I strongly believe that the environment around a person, on the other hand, is ever-changing and offers more opportunities for growth and variation.
The concept of man creating life is a subject matter people don’t really take into account. Have you ever contemplated how the world would be like if one day, a curious soul decided to create life? Would people of future generations possess and comprehend religious beliefs when they discover that human beings have the ability of creating life? Would the science of life be altered eternally? The novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley truly depicts the significance of this topic. In this novel, the author tells a story in which an inquisitive, eager man decides to create a living creature. This creature forms a mind of it’s own; a mind capable of much more than that of a human’s. Surprisingly, this creature finds a way, on his own, to absorb knowledge
In Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, many similarities can be seen between the creature and his creator, Victor Frankenstein. While Victor and the creature are similar, there are a few binary oppositions throughout the book that make them different. The binary oppositions in the novel serve as thematic contrast; and some of the most illustrative oppositions between the two characters are on the focus of family, parenthood, isolation and association with others.
In 1874, Francis Galton said, “Nature is all that a man brings with him into the world; nurture is every influence that affects him after his birth”. The human body contains millions upon millions of cells and each of these cells contains hereditary information and DNA. However, there is no proof that the information carried in these genes predetermines the way in which we behave. I believe it is our life experiences and what we see and are told that shape the way in which we behave. Therefore, it appears to me that nurturing plays a far more governing and dominant role in a human being’s development rather than nature.