Easily one of the most notable theme in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the role of nature or nurture in developing children recurs throughout the novel with the two main characters, Dr. Frankenstein and his creature, believing in opposite sides of the theme. Favoring nature, Dr. Frankenstein maintains that the creature was always evil from the moment of creation and regardless of the creature’s experiences. However, Shelley herself seems to agree with the creature’s contrasting argument. In his narrative to Dr. Frankenstein, the creature argues that “I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend” (147). An innately righteous and sympathetic creature, Dr. Frankenstein’s monster struggles to persevere in the human world, merely wanting humans
…show more content…
Dr. Frankenstein, the equivalent of the creature’s father, immediately leaves the creature, abhorred by the sight of what he had made. Upon the realization that the creature has left his house, the relieved Dr. Frankenstein does not attempt to find him, instead trying his best not to think about it. At this point, the creature is essentially an infant, already set cast out alone in a world that he does not understand. Hoping to find a safe haven or someone who could understand and accept him, the creature comes across the kind DeLacey family. After months of watching and helping the DeLacey’s, the creature comes to view them as his surrogate family, even though they do not know he is there. He learns how to read and speak through them and performs menial work so that they do not have to themselves. When Felix attacks the creature and moves his family away from their house, he unintentionally abandons the creature, adding insult to the wound. Left with no one, the creature clings on to the idea of a companion, someone to keep him company and never leave him. However, Dr. Frankenstein destroys the creature’s companion when he was almost finished with making her. Abandoned by the only idea that gave him solace, the creature gives into societal beliefs that he is a monster, plotting his revenge. Associated with several negative effects, abandonment is an increasingly more prominent issue in society nowadays. During infancy, children need caregivers to teach and give them attention in order to learn kindness, empathy, and compassion properly. Without this attention, incomplete or aberrant relationships form. The creature is a prime example of this phenomenon, incapable of forming connections and unable to distinguish clearly between good and evil. By abandoning the creature in the beginning of the novel, Dr. Frankenstein begins the creature’s downhill
Dr. Frankenstein, the equivalent of the creature’s father, immediately leaves the creature, abhorred by the sight of what he had made. Upon the realization that the creature has left his house, the relieved Dr. Frankenstein does not attempt to find him, instead trying his best not to think about it. At this point, the creature is essentially an infant, already set cast out alone in a world that he does not understand. Hoping to find a safe haven or someone who could understand and accept him, the creature comes across the kind DeLacey family. After months of watching and helping the DeLacey’s, the creature comes to view them as his surrogate family, even though they do not know he is there. He learns how to read and speak through them and performs menial work so that they do not have to themselves. When Felix attacks the creature and moves his family away from their house, he unintentionally abandons the creature, adding insult to the wound. Left with no one, the creature clings on to the idea of a companion, someone to keep him company and never leave him. However, Dr. Frankenstein destroys the creature’s companion when he was almost finished with making her. Abandoned by the only idea that gave him solace, the creature gives into societal beliefs that he is a monster, plotting his revenge. Associated with several negative effects, abandonment is an increasingly more prominent issue in society nowadays. During infancy, children need caregivers to teach and give them attention in order to learn kindness, empathy, and compassion properly. Without this attention, incomplete or aberrant relationships form. The creature is a prime example of this phenomenon, incapable of forming connections and unable to distinguish clearly between good and evil. By abandoning the creature in the beginning of the novel, Dr. Frankenstein begins the creature’s downhill