“Nature is all that a man brings with himself into the world; nurture is every influence from without that affects him after his birth” — Sir Francis Galton
Many philosophers have discussed the likes of whether or not a persons character is a result of nature or nurture. In the writings of John Locke he stated that every person is born with a
“Tabula Rasa”, a blank slate, and later, through experiences in society shape their character. The idea that true character is the result of experiences and societal interaction is deeply explored throughout Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Shelley attempts to express that it is because of Victor’s failings as a creator and the creatures isolation from society is why the creature has become vengeful. The creature’s character is a direct result of how he was nurtured, based on his experiences, rather than him being innately evil from birth.
Nurture is the process of caring for and encouraging the growth or development of someone or something. The creature was born good it was through his environment that the creature became evil “I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and
I shall again be virtuous” (69). It was through the lack of nurture that made him vengeful and malicious. The creature even did good deeds but the reaction to these deeds only spurred the hatred of making inside him. The creature saved a little girl from drowning and in response he was shot. Also upon revealing himself to the family he admired and brought wood for he was “
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struck… violently with a stick”(148). Then when he saved a little girl from drowning he was shot, no gratitude was shown for his good deeds. It is in ones nature to be surrounded even the creature felt it he longed for friends and family but he was an “ unfortunate and deserted creature” (147). Love is a strong emotion it skews the view of everyone affected by it. The lack of love matched with a life of solitude and hatred, led the creature to turn towards a maliciously vengeful path. Victor is the creatures father figure and Victor failed to give compassion and nurture to the creature. Victor his creator hate his creation “ Yet you, my creator, detest and spurn me, thy creature, to whom thou art bound by ties…You propose to kill me”(68). Victor set this creature out into the world Victor gave the creature no emotion at all except hate Victor needs to take responsibility for his creation “ You purpose to kill me. How dare you sport thus with life? Do your duty towards me, and I will do mine towards you and the rest of mankind. If you will comply with my conditions, I will leave them and you at peace; but if you refuse, I will glut the maw of death, until it be satiated with the blood of your remaining friends” (68). The result of
Victors actions follow when the creature refers himself to a fallen angel “I am rather the fallen angel” (69). The creature was once good but through the abandonment of his creator and his
