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The Role Of Nature Vs. Nurture In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

894 Words4 Pages

The argument in Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein is nature vs. nurture between the two main characters. Victor Frankenstein and the Creature he created, both have a unique part in each other’s way of life. Frankenstein and the Creature have two very different up brings. Nature and nurture are very important throughout the chapters because how each character is treated. The nature part of the argument is Frankenstein and his background, while nurture is the reason for the creature failing. Shelley makes these points to us through her expression of words when she is describing Frankenstein’s and the Creature’s personalities and the ways they go about handling life. Shelley talks about light and fire as a symbol for intelligence and fast moving pace, at the same time it is a physical vicious force. This symbol is key to supporting the nature vs. nurture argument through out the novel giving us much needed information. Frankenstein’s behavior is partly because of how he was brought up in an powerful family. Shelley begins to talk about Frankenstein’s history and of his nature. He tells us of being born “a Genevese” family that is “one of the most distinguished of that republic”(Shelly 17). Frankenstein explains that his ancestors had been a cornerstone of the …show more content…

nurture argument are shown to the reader with the two main characters; Victor Frankenstein and the creature he creates are being portrayed to the reader through the use of careful wording. Frankenstein had fallen victim to nature because he was raised in a wealthy environment and had family around him. The creature had fallen victim to nurture because he was left alone from birth and was disliked by many. Shelley reveals this to the reader through her wording and the symbolism using light and fire as an intellectually intriguing, yet physically destructive, force. But over all Shelly supports the creature’s actions because of how he was treated by the

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