ipl-logo

Frankenstein Nature Vs Nurture

934 Words4 Pages

While both nature and nurture are essential in the development of a person, I believe that it can be seen that often times nurture is more often than not the more important of the two. In the story of “Frankenstein” by mary Shelley, the theme of nature vs nurture is shown through the character of the monster created by Victor Frankenstein. In the beginning, the monster is innocent, but as he ventures through the world and is rejected by society due to his appearance, he becomes violent, this demonstrates how the environment and people around the creature can shape an individual's behavior. The monster was born innocent, but with the treatment, he received from the people around him, he began to have evil intentions even going as far as to go …show more content…

While the novel does not present a direct argument for one side or the other, it does provide evidence for both the influence of nature and nurture in shaping an individual's behavior and personality. One of the main arguments for the influence of nature is that the monster's physical appearance is a product of Victor Frankenstein's scientific experimentation. The monster is created from dead body parts, then reanimated by electricity and this is what makes him different from other human beings. The monster is rejected and shunned by society due to his appearance, which demonstrates the power of nature in shaping his experiences and ultimately his behavior. On the other hand, the monster's behavior and personality are shaped by his experiences and the way society treats him. The monster starts as innocent and kind, but as he is rejected and shunned by society, he becomes violent. This demonstrates the power of nurture in shaping one's behavior and personality. The monster's own beliefs also emphasize the role of nurture in his development, as he describes his initial feelings of love for the natural world and his change to corruption and hatred as a result of being rejected and mistreated by …show more content…

During an experiment with 3 groups of children, one with a male role model, one with a female, and one with no role model, the children are shown the role models assaulting a bobo doll differently, one with physical abuse, and the other with verbal abuse, the children are then lead to a separate room that has the same bobo doll in it. When left by themselves the children treat the doll the same way that the role model did, but the group with no role model chooses to leave the bobo doll alone and played with something else. This illustrates the role of nurture in the development of a child, with the children that were shown aggression choosing to become aggressive towards the doll, and the children who were left to themselves never learned to be aggressive and choose to avoid the doll rather than assault

Show More
Related

Emotional Development In Frankenstein

1274 Words | 6 Pages

The monster was innocent, born with a blank state of emotions. But unlike a newborn the monster was already physically developed and emotionally evolved very quickly. From the start when he interacted with humans he was met with scorn and rejection this included his own creator. Due to this the emotion of loneliness is planted at the very start of his life and would stay with him to the end. He experiences emotional development when ever he has interactions with humans for example, he came to the love the cottage dwellers shown when he stated “Now allow me to the return to the story of the cottagers, whose stories excited in me such various feelings of indignation, delight and wonder, but which all terminated in additional love and reverence for my protectors (for so I loved, in an innocent, half painful self deceit to call them)”

Read More

The Influence Of Nature Vs. Nurture In Frankenstein

825 Words | 4 Pages

Nature is the predetermined traits that people are born with, while nurture is the influence that affects people after they’re born. The debate surrounding Nature V. Nurture is how much of a person’s traits is predetermined and how much is influenced by the environment. Mary Shelley's believes in nurture more than nature. Victor Frankenstein has certain traits that he’s born with. Frankenstein is born into a prestigious, wealthy family.

Read More

Frankenstein's Monster Personality

604 Words | 3 Pages

This monster also shows that he has similar cognitive abilities as man when he found delight in knowledge. This knowledge lead to him reflecting upon the nature of man, as well as the meaning of his existence (85). In many ways such as these the monster is the same as any other person, however the monster differs in that he is the first of his kind and has been continuously rejected. Unlike a normal human this monster didn’t have to physically grow up, but he did have to learn the ways of survival. Where we usually have a parent or somebody to teach us, this monster was left alone to fend for himself.

Read More

Frankenstein's Childhoods Create A Monster?

1158 Words | 5 Pages

Is there ever a correct way to raise a child to the correct path of life? Will even the happiest of childhoods create a monster? Throughout the classic novel of Frankenstein, by the creative writer Mary Shelly, the conflicted theme of nature versus nature is established from its main characters. Early on in the story line, Victor is revealed to have a loving and joyful childhood from both of his parents Alphonse and Caroline. However, after a failed experiment during his study of natural philosophy in Ingolstadt, Victor abandoned his creation made with human remains.

Read More

The Role Of Upbringing In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

565 Words | 3 Pages

Memories of a Monster Frankenstein’s monster is usually considered a monster of inconceivable malevolence, but it seems as though Mary Shelley believed there was more to his story in the novel: Frankenstein. Bioengineering plays a key role in this question, so does the type of upbringing given and the psychological aspect cannot be forgotten. This Nature vs Nurture topic makes for an interesting discussion on raising children in modern america, which is why I feel strongly about this question. The question is; was Frankenstein’s monster corrupt from his creation, or was he taught to be malicious? Was his creation a bad egg from the start, or was he spoiled as time went on?

Read More

How Does Mary Shelley Use Punishment In Frankenstein

499 Words | 2 Pages

The monster, in his seemingly youthful state, is inherently good. When a young girl nearly drowns, the monster saves her, but what he receives is a shot to the shoulder. This immediately teaches him that his altruistic acts will not be met equally. Being punished for an action the monster believed was an act of kindness teaches him simply to not act kindly, as it will only bring pain, physical and mental. This lesson that the monster learns contributes to his natural production.

Read More

Differences Between Frankenstein And Society

213 Words | 1 Pages

Society is the real monster. If the monster had not been shunned by society, he would never have become the monster. The world has turned him into the monster he knows he is. Despite his monstrous appearance, the monster was not inherently evil and only sought acceptance and love. However, the rejection and cruelty he faced from society ultimately drove him to commit horrific acts.

Read More

Frankenstein Comparative Essay

1259 Words | 6 Pages

In Shelly’s text, the Frankenstein’s abandonment of his creation causes him to revert to monstrosity. The monster himself laments this stating that his “feelings of affection…were requited by detestation and scorn” from Victor, which prompts him to seek “revenge” against him by murdering his friends and family (140). Because these acts stem from Frankenstein’s abandonment of his monster, the blame for all subsequent evils falls squarely to Victor Frankenstein. However, in the film, the monster is not made evil by abandonment so much as the accidental placement of a “criminal” brain in the creature as opposed to a “natural” one, a mistake made by Frankenstein’s bumbling assistant. By placing the blame for his monstrosity on innate, accidentally created qualities of the monster, the film absolves the blame for evil from Frankenstein.

Read More

Are Criminals Affected By Nature Or Nurture?

762 Words | 4 Pages

One of the most debated topics throughout the world is nature versus nurture. When psychologists debate this topic, they are studying what influences a person’s personal development. Some say that a person’s nature influences personal development while others say a person’s nurture influences personal development. A lot of people spend time contemplating which one actually does the influencing but what some do not realize is that, perhaps, both nature and nurture help shape a person’s personal development. One topic that comes up quite often is whether or not a person is born a criminal.

Read More

Nature Vs. Nurture In Mary Shelly's Frankenstein

1819 Words | 8 Pages

Nature V.S. Nurture in Mary Shelly's Frankenstein Mary Shelly's Frankenstein discusses the nature of human begins, whether it is simply one's natural instinct to act maliciously or if it's one's surroundings and environment that impact their behavior. Victor Frankenstein, the protagonist of this intricate novel, answers this question in two ways, as both the product and the perpetrator of how it is both in the nature of a person, and their nurturing that develops their behaviors, and in the case of this plot, malicious behaviors. Since a young age Frankenstein desired knowledge, constantly seeking for greater wisdom, while his father did not care for this. His passion for learning wasn't something that his parents conditioned him into, and

Read More

Nature Vs Nurture Mcleod Analysis

618 Words | 3 Pages

Critical Analysis Saul McLeod discusses nature versus nurture in his article “Nature Versus Nurture in Psychology.” McLeod describes the theory of nature versus nurture and important psychologists, states the history behind the theories, and mentions recent ideas and theories pertaining to nature versus nurture. With McLeod’s wide coverage and depth, he displays a good range in knowledge of the topic and produces an informative article. McLeod first states that the debate of nature versus nurture focuses on environment and genes and then describes each: “Nature is what we think of as pre-wiring and is influenced by genetic inheritance and other biological factors. Nurture is generally taken as the influence of external

Read More

Influence Of Parental Figure In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

938 Words | 4 Pages

Regardless of who we strive to be, or who we dare not to be, those who we respect and look up to will be the ones who leave an impression on our lives. To the Monster’s credit, it continued to pursue a life of good deeds until the people it idolized turn on it. Because of the influence made on it by its parental figures the Monster behaves like an outsider, and as an outsider it gains new role models and is governed by new emotions such as anger and hate. The monster should not be blamed for its malicious nature, rather, the people who taught it hate and the Doctor who created it without a true intent of being its

Read More

Nature Vs Nurture Theory

700 Words | 3 Pages

The nature vs. nurture debate centers on whether human behaviour and personality are inherited (nature) or acquired (nurture); in other words, whether a person’s environment or a person’s genetic inheritance determines their behaviour and personality. Goldsmith and Harman (1994) adopt a neutral position, in which both nature and nurture influence people, stating that they “believe that the fundamental issue concerns the interplay between characteristics of the individual and of the relationship” (54). Goldsmith and Harman discuss temperament and attachment for infant, with temperament being linked to the nature side of the debate and attachment being linked with the nurture side; as a result, the infant’s temperament influences the attachment bond between the infant and the mother, but the attachment bond influences the temperament of the child as well. Therefore, both nature and nurture interact with each other to produce people’s behaviour (Harman et al. 54). Andersen and Berk (1998) take on the nurture perspective, while Leary (1999) claims that nature is the determining factor of a person’s personality.

Read More

Essay On Nature Vs Nurture

793 Words | 4 Pages

During this assignment, I will be discussing how a child or young person's development can be affected by their nature and their nurture. Our nature is what biological make-up we inherited from our parents, whether the pigmentation of our hair or inherited diseases. Our nurture is the upbringing we had as a child, what we were taught from our parents, right from wrong, and our morals. These key issues are important when considering a child or young person's development, as both their nature and nurture has affected and influenced their development. Within settings, the Nature Vs Nurture debate could affect the practice.

Read More

Nature And Nurture Influence On Child Development Essay

662 Words | 3 Pages

Use at least two scholarly articles as well as the textbook to support your position. There are facts to prove that both nature and nurture take a huge role in how children develop and why they become what they are as adults. Based on the research it is known that there is no clear answer as to what is more influential than the other when it comes to nature versus nurture. This topic is still in debate due to the fact that there are so many supporting details to prove that both play a huge role in a child’s life. REFERENCES: : Nature versus nurture debate.

Read More

More about Frankenstein Nature Vs Nurture

Related Topics

Open Document