Frankenstein: a Debate on Nature vs Nurture

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One of the world’s most controversial topics is the debate between nature versus nurture. In other words, some say behavior is hereditary while others believe it’s all based on personal experiences we’re faced with. It’s clear that certain physical characteristics are strictly based on nature, but it also can’t be denied that nurture plays a big part as well. Both factors are large contributions to our overall personality, although some people believe more strongly in one over the other. In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, it’s evident that that the theme she is trying to illustrate is that the creature’s birth and behavior favors nurture over nature. The creature’s first influence was the De Lacey family. They unknowingly nurtured him in the early stages of his life and despite the fact that the creature had an unnatural birth, he still possessed the characteristics of a newborn baby. A primary example of this is when the creature first makes his discovery of fire: One day, when I was oppressed by cold, I found a fire which had been left by some wandering beggars, and was overcome with delight at the warmth I experienced from it. In my joy I thrust my hand into the live embers, but quickly drew it out again with a cry of pain. How strange, I thought, that the same cause should produce such opposite effects! (104). This shows that he didn’t have much common knowledge at the time, just like a young child. Everything is intriguing during that time and when knowing so little, sometimes curiosity can be harmful. Earlier in the chapter the creature says to himself, “No distinct ideas occupied my mind; all was confused.” (104). The creature doesn’t feel this way because he’s not the most intelligent, but simply because his mind is so new and fresh and hasn’t been exposed to reality for very long. Again this shows that he had an equivalent mentality to thus of a
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