Setting in the Novel 'Frankenstein': the Theme of Nature VS Nurture
Nature vs. Nurture is one of the most important themes in Frankenstein. Victor Frankenstein and the creature he creates both have a type of nature that affects their personality and way of life. Because they are both similar with nature vs. nurture, they have different nurturing styles. Victor Frankenstein is responsible with nature because of his fall, while the creature's fall is in the nurture aspect. Shelly is able to show that in the novel because she is describing Victor and the creature’s personalities in Frankenstein. The Setting in Frankenstein addresses the nature vs. nurture conflict - the main idea for current essay. Shelley explains this conflict by showing how Victor creates a “child” who he then abandons. The question to be asked is, is this creature made to be evil or did him being abandoned turn him evil?
Shelly starts the novel off by addressing Victor’s nature. He describes himself as being born into a family that is “one of the most distinguished of the republic”. Victor Frankenstein continues the story by describing his family as “honor” and “integrity”. Being a part of a rich family makes Victor a victim of his nature. Because his family is so powerful, this puts a toll on Victor and makes it too much for him to handle. He reflects on this when he creates his creature. “I had worked for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body..I had desired it with ardor that far exceeded moderation,” is what Victor said. Shelley’s use of words such as power and control are tended to Victor’s nature. This is what foreshadows his downfall and how he falls throughout the novel. Shelley then uses symbolism, the symbol of light, to utilize it when giving life to his creature during a storm. An important thing to remember is the nurturing that Victor Frankenstein endured during his childhood. Victor mentions that his father devoted himself to the education of his children. Shelley’s use of the word devoted when explaining Victor’s father shows that Victor had a privileged life growing up because his father cared for him. The examples of nurture in Frankenstein are used to show that Victor had a positive influence and well-being.
When referring to the creature, the creature is the opposite of Victor Frankenstein. The creature’s nature is different from Victor’s nature. The creature has desires to learn to read, write, and even be accepted by other human beings. Victor was a father figure to the creature, but he immediately abandons him. After the creature was left alone, the creature describes how he was being treated by the world around him. “Some fled, some attacked me, until, grievously bruised by stones and many other kinds of missile weapons, I escaped to the open country. Here then I retreated, and lay down happy to have found a shelter, however miserable, from the inclemency of the season, and still more the barbarity of man”. The creature does not fight the assailants, which proves his innocence as a creature and his good intentions. This, however, could be used as a contract of his actions later in the novel. This is because his environment worsens, especially after his encounter with the De Laceys, which causes the creature to become worse.
The creature acknowledges that his personality and behavior were affected by his environment. The creature grew around people who were cottagers and they developed him to be kind and a caring being. However, the creature expresses that if he learned to behave around a soldier, he would not be the same. The encounter with Felix, Agatha, and Safie, made the creature no longer behave as caring. He is now hateful. His environment and experiences led him to change his personality to match the disappointing nature of his life. In conclusion, Frankenstein falls to nature while the creature is toward nurture. They both go through things in life but the creature had a harder time as he was abandoned.
