Nature vs Nurture in Frankenstein
Nature vs. Nurture in Frankenstein
In the novel "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley, the relationship of external appearance and internal feelings are directly related. The creature is created and he is innocent, though he is severely deformed. His nature is to be good and kind, but society only views his external appearance which is deformed. Human nature is to judge by external appearance. He is automatically detested and labeled as a monster because of his external appearance. He finally realized that no matter how well he speaks and how kind he is, people will never be able to see past his external deformities. Children are fearful of him, Adults think he is dangerous, and his own creator abandons him in disgust. The creature is treated as a monster, therefore he begins to internalize societies view of him and act the like a monster.
Man by nature judges people and things by their appearance. If a person is pleasant looking then they will be given more of a chance to express their internal self. If they are ugly or deformed, they usually aren't given much of a chance to show who they really are. Grotesquely ugly people are thought of as monsters, and are detested. Mankind seems to be fearful of the unfamiliar and unknown. People are afraid of what they do not understand. Deformity is something that most people cannot comprehend. Shelley writes through Victor, “His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! - Great god! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing: his teeth of pearly whiteness: but the luxuriance only formed a more horrid contrast to his watery eyes… Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room, and continued a long time traversing my bed chamber, unable to compose my mind to sleep.”(56). This quote portrays the few moments after Frankenstein had given life to his creature. He had spent
In the novel "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley, the relationship of external appearance and internal feelings are directly related. The creature is created and he is innocent, though he is severely deformed. His nature is to be good and kind, but society only views his external appearance which is deformed. Human nature is to judge by external appearance. He is automatically detested and labeled as a monster because of his external appearance. He finally realized that no matter how well he speaks and how kind he is, people will never be able to see past his external deformities. Children are fearful of him, Adults think he is dangerous, and his own creator abandons him in disgust. The creature is treated as a monster, therefore he begins to internalize societies view of him and act the like a monster.
Man by nature judges people and things by their appearance. If a person is pleasant looking then they will be given more of a chance to express their internal self. If they are ugly or deformed, they usually aren't given much of a chance to show who they really are. Grotesquely ugly people are thought of as monsters, and are detested. Mankind seems to be fearful of the unfamiliar and unknown. People are afraid of what they do not understand. Deformity is something that most people cannot comprehend. Shelley writes through Victor, “His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! - Great god! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing: his teeth of pearly whiteness: but the luxuriance only formed a more horrid contrast to his watery eyes… Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room, and continued a long time traversing my bed chamber, unable to compose my mind to sleep.”(56). This quote portrays the few moments after Frankenstein had given life to his creature. He had spent