Nature versus Nurture in Frankenstein free essay sample

Nature versus nurture; this is a common debate physiologists are in constant question over. In regards to the development of an individual’s personality, some believe that one is born with an innate personality. In the meantime, others believe that one’s personality is developed through experience over their lifetime. Both nature and nurture are major contributors to the development of characters in the story, Frankenstein. In Mary Shelley’s famous novel, Frankenstein, there is evidence that Shelley views Nature of being the more powerful component to the development of a personality. In the novel, Frankenstein, the main character, Victor Frankenstein, has a natural desire to learn everything he can about natural philosophy. When speaking of his childhood, Victor exclaims, â€Å"but by some law in my temperature they were turned not towards childish pursuits, but to an eager desire to learn†¦my enquiries were directed to the metaphysical or in its highest sense, the physical secrets of the world,† (Shelley 19). We will write a custom essay sample on Nature versus Nurture in Frankenstein or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Victor Frankenstein admits that his desire to learn is in his own nature, and does take interest in more common childhood preoccupants. Even when his own father disapproves by saying, â€Å"‘Ah! Cornelius Agrippa! My dear Victor, do not waste your time upon this; it is sad trash! ’â€Å" (Shelley 20), Victor still remains loyal to his studies. The outburst given by his father does not have any negative impact over Victor in any way; â€Å"But the cursory glance my father had taken of my volume by no means assured me that he was acquainted with its contents; and I continued to read with the greatest avidity,† (Shelley 21). This statement shows that Victor is not worried about the opinions of society or those who are raising him; he knows that studying natural philosophy is his passion, and he plans to continue studying no matter what. Obviously, Victor does not have anyone to confide in when learning about his studies, therefore, there is no one in his environment who can influence him in this area, which defends Shelley’s view of Nature. Frankenstein acknowledges this and says, â€Å"I was, to a great degree, self-taught with regard to my favorite studies. My father was not scientific, and I was left to struggle with a child’s blindness, added to a student’s thirst for knowledge,† (Shelley 21). Frankenstein continues to stay dedicated to his studies even when he goes off to college. His values on learning are apparent when he says, â€Å"In other studies, you go as far as others have gone before you, and there is nothing more to know; but in a scientific pursuit there is continual food for discovery and wonder,† (Shelley 30). He continues to engage in his studies, and when working on his creation, he quotes, â€Å"I could not tear my thoughts from my employment,†(Shelley 33). Victor is so involved with his intellectual pursuit that he is not going to let society get in the way of being active in his scientific work. In the end of the novel, he tells Walton, â€Å"Seek happiness in tranquility, and avoid ambition, even if it be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in scientific discoveries. Yet why do I say this? I have myself been blasted in these hopes, yet another may succeed,† (Shelley 163). Although Frankenstein feels that he did not accomplish anything in the scientific field, he still recognizes the importance of science, and urges Walden to stay true to himself, or his true nature, while learning from his mistakes in the meantime. The character of Victor Frankenstein is a character born to love science, and he continues to express this throughout the novel Mary Shelley uses examples that support the theory of nature upon Frankenstein’s creature. When the creature is observing the De Lacey’s, he cannot help but notice that there is sadness amongst the family. He cannot help but feel troubled by this; â€Å"I saw no cause for their unhappiness, but I was deeply affected by it,† (Shelley 77). The creature, in his benevolent nature, wants to help the small family, and decides, â€Å"I discovered also another means through which I was enabled to assist their labours†¦during the night, I often took his tools, the use of which I quickly discovered, and brought home firing sufficient for the consumption of several days,† (Shelley 78). The creature receives inner joy when performing such tasks for others, even though they are not even acquainted with him. The creature is soon shunned by the family though, and falls into utter sadness. Despite the unjustly expressions of others, the creature still feels good in him. He witnesses a young girl slip and fall into a rapid stream, and instinctively reacts by saving her; â€Å"I rushed from my hiding-place, and, with extreme labour from the force of the current, saved her, and dragged her to shore,† (Shelley 101). Unfortunately, the human race still does not respond kindly to the creature, which eventually makes him to behave maliciously. While speaking to his creator, Victor, he explains to him, â€Å"Instead of threatening, I am content to reason with you. I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned by all mankind? † (Shelley 104). The creature admits to behaving in an evil manner, and continues to do so. At the end of the novel, the creature shares with Walton, his feelings while behaving in such monstrous ways. While looking over the body of his creator, he says, â€Å"Oh, Frankenstein! Generous and self-devoted being! What does it avail that I now ask thee to pardon me? I, who irretrievably destroyed thee by destroying all thou lovedst,† (Shelley 163). The creature feels incredibly guilty for the evil acts, which he performed. This shows that the creature my have been behaving in a horrible manner, but in the end, he regrets it all, because he had been behaving in such a way that is against his good conscious and personality. He then reflects upon a few of the murders he committed, â€Å"After the murder of Clerval, I returned to Switzerland, heartbroken and overcome. I pitied Frankenstein,† (Shelley 165). The creature feels remorse after allowing himself to behave in a way that does not level up to his innate personality, or in other words, his true nature. The creature created by Frankenstein is born free and good, and although becomes temporarily corrupted by society, he proves to still contain his good aspects of his personality in the end of the novel. In Shelley’s novel, personality derived from nature, is strongly expressed through the character, Elizabeth. Victor Frankenstein describes her as being beautiful, peaceful, and gentle. He says, â€Å"The saintly soul of Elizabeth shone like a shrine-dedicated lamp in our peaceful home†¦she was the living spirit of love to soften and attract: I might have become sullen in my study, rough through the ardour of my nature, but she was there to subdue me to a semblance of her own gentleness,† (Shelley 20). Elizabeth is the type of person whose radiance and love brightens up everyone’s life. Victor is aware of this and knows he can rely on her to feel better no matter what, because her loving and uplifting personality seems to be in her own nature. This is also proven after her friend, Justine is accused of murdering their younger brother, William. She says to Victor, â€Å"I rely on her innocence as certainly as I do upon my own. Our misfortune is doubly hard to us; we have not only lost that lovely darling boy, but this poor girl, whom I sincerely love, is to be torn away by even a worse fate. If she is condemned, I never shall know joy more. But she will not, I am sure she will not; and then I shall be happy again, even after the sad death of my little William,† (Shelley 53). Elizabeth continues to remain optimistic even though fate in her environment seems to be turning against her. Near the end, when her and Victor are on their honeymoon, Victor senses that he will be greeted by death that night, and is nervously anticipating this event. Elizabeth can sense that something is troubling him; â€Å" ‘Be happy, my dear Victor,’ replied Elizabeth; ‘there is, I hope, nothing to distress you; and be assured that if a lively joy is not painted in my face, my heart is contented. Something whispers to me not to depend too much on the prospect that is opened before us, but I will not listen to such a sinister voice†¦What a divine day! How happy and serene all nature appears! ’ â€Å" (Shelley 143). Even though Elizabeth feels there is something wrong, she refuses to allow such environmental factors destroy that of nature and who she truly is as a person, which is comforting and positive. Although many characters portray the side of nature in the debate, Elizabeth is the character who represents this view the most. In the famous novel, Frankenstein, Mary Shelley uses evidence to suggest that nature is the more powerful component in the development of personality. The main character, Victor Frankenstein, loves scientific studies, and has had a legitimate interest since his early childhood. The creature that he creates is born to be good, and still proves to hold onto those good virtues towards the end of this novel. The character of Elizabeth is very caring and remains this way for the rest of her life. All three of these characters face horrid events in their lives, but in the end, they all prove to have the innate personality that they had been born with. Shelley views a character’s personality as being predestined and therefore, stands on the side of Nature, in the common debate, Nature versus Nurture.