Are individuals born malicious or do they become that way? In answering this question, you must consider the “nature vs. nurture” argument. Does one enter the world evil or does he become malicious gradually because of his life experiences?
My answer to this controversial question is that nurture is mainly the cause for either one’s goodwill or one’s malice. This notion is proven throughout “Frankenstein.” The wretch was originally “benevolent and good; misery made [him] a fiend” (119). The creature is born kind. It is nurture, or lack thereof, that made him malicious.
The creature did good deeds. He collected wood for the needy family he admired and he saved a child that fell into a river. However, he is not praised for his kind actions. He is, instead, rebuked and harmed. After revealing himself to the family that he aided, the creature was “struck…violently with a stick” (148). Since this is the way humans treat him, it makes sense that the creature is not fond of mankind. Upon saving the little girl, the creature is not shown any gratitude; he is instead greeted by horror and is shot. How could he be benevolent when he is treated so poorly?
The wretch is an “unfortunate and deserted creature”(147). He longs for friends and family, just as any other being does. Nobody gives the poor creature the benefit of the doubt. When he approached a cottage in a village, upon seeing him, “the whole village was roused; some fled, some attacked [him], until, grievously bruised by stones and many other kinds of missile weapons, [he] escaped to the open country” (124). The creature is viewed as the bad guy, however, he is not. He has nobody and is treated badly. He is not raised by his creator. Victor deserts him. Why should he want be kind to mankind, when he is treated so maliciously?
Think about it. If you were in his place, would you be benevolent? Most likely not. He is initially compassionate, but mankind made him the way he is. Despite his good nature, lack of nurture and the cruelty of human beings have made him the way he is.
So… basically I wrote the exact same blog post, except I swear I didn’t see yours before writing mine.
That being said, I obviously agree with your statement on Frankenstein’s monster. The lack of nurture and the fact that he is unloved his entire “life,” turned him against human society, something for which I don’t blame him. I like your addition of Victor deserting him, as the monster often thinks about where he comes from and why he doesn’t have a family. This sense of unlovedness (pretend it’s a word for argument’s sake) definitely quickened the pace of his downwards spiral towards being evil.
I agree, there is no question that lack nurture is the primary cause of the creatures dislike for mankind. It seems as if nature made him to be good. However, nature (or victor frankenstein) left him devoid of nurture in the form of a companion. This isolation is the root of all the creatures problems
I definitely agree with you that Frankenstein’s creation only became a “monster” after mankind refused to accept him. When the creature first comes in contact with man and is discovering emotion, he longs for compassion acceptance. He only wants to be cared for and nurtured in the same way that human parents care for their children. When he is continuously denied this acceptance, he becomes enraged and lashes out at mankind. If he had been nurtured by Frankenstein and treated with compassion, he would never have become a “monster”.
I think it is interesting that although this creature tried to be kind and good-hearted his actions go unseen simply because of his appearance and what mankind assumes when looking at him. This shows the power of outward appearances and how the way one looks truly does effect how they are perceived.
I completely agree with your point, considering how the monster recounted doing numerous amiable acts only to receive backlash from society. Also, the point about the monster’s solitude is interesting, since it makes the monster seems like an orphan, which might be Shelly’s way of showing her views on orphanages.
I agree with you, Carly. It is obvious that the monster is initially benevolent and has a good nature. However, as people attack him when he does not do anything, he loses faith in human. It is the slow development after he is created that he starts to become cruel and twisted. Think about it, if a person is abandoned by your birth parents and is disgusted by people with no reason, will that person still be able to maintain his or her good nature? It is the nurture that takes place after that person’s birth determines his or her personality and future.
I agree with the points you made in this post. However, did Frankenstein intend to create someone malicious or benevolent? I feel like in the novel, Frankenstein does not include the nature of the monster. However, nurture has definitely shaped the monster and made him who he is.