Nature Vs. Nurture In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

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The debate on nature versus nurture has been ongoing for years, constantly begging the question of whether behavior, ideas, and feelings are innate or learned over time. Nature supporters believe that genes form a child's conscience and determine one's approach to life, which contrasts with the idea that children are born Tabula Rasa or “blank slate,” only to be later formed by experience. There are many documentaries and novels that discuss this issue, one of these is Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. In this novel scientist Victor Frankenstein creates a creature and must deal with the consequences of doing so. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Despite Victor stating that the creature is born evil, there is plenty of examples of the creature being shaped by the world around him. …show more content…
The first book the creature reads is The Sorrows of Werter. Before the creature read this book he had no concept of heroes and villains, or of death and suicide. Through The Sorrows of Werter the creature begins to feel emotions he had never felt before such despondency and gloom. The second book the creature reads is Plutarch’s Lives. Plutarch’s Lives has a different effect on the creature. Plutarch’s novel teaches the creature about heroes of past ages. This novel also instilled in the creature a love of virtue and a abhorrence for vice. A dislike, as seen by the creatures earlier actions, that previously did not exist. The third book the creature reads is Paradise Lost. This novel taught the creature about higher powers such as God. It was through this book that the creature first realized how truly alone he was. After the creature had read these stories the creature read a copy of Victor’s research notes. The horrid description and hateful expression used to describe the creature instilled in the creature a new sensation,
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