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Nature Vs. Nurture In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

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Nature vs. nurture has been an ongoing argument throughout history between scientists and philosophers alike and is still being debated today. During the romantic period of literature, most romantics fell to the nurture side of the argument because they believed that a human’s well-being depended on how they had been treated by their parents, or lack thereof. While science might suggest that people are born with ethical abilities from nature alone, Mary Shelley alludes through her novel, “Frankenstein,” and proves through her own life why all people must be nurtured by loving influences to ensure happiness. As Mary Shelley’s, “Frankenstein” was really a way for her to express her lonely and neglected childhood, it shows how her abandonment …show more content…

However, his own actions and decisions were the causes of his self-destruction because he chose to isolate himself from that loving environment. Attempting a shot in the dark at fame and fortune by creating new life, Victor’s selfishness got the best of him, which lead to his disastrous decision of removing himself from all his friends and family who loved him dearly. Victor even acknowledges this when, “the summer months passed while I was thus engaged, heart and soul, in one pursuit. And the same feelings which made me neglect the scenes around me caused me also to forget those friends who were so many miles absent, and whom I had not seen for so long a time” (Shelley 33). Based on the way that Victor’s life turned out, and after all the trouble he put himself through by isolating himself from the people who loved him, it is safe to say that it was not his parent’s or family's fault for the way he ended as miserable as the monster he created. The only thing that was the cause of this sadness were his own personal life decisions. A characteristic of selfishness and self-centeredness is apparent through Victor, as well, because he misused a luxury so many people never get to experience: having a loving family, in which he traded for success and

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