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Nature vs. Nurture One’s behavior is a reflection of nature or nurture. Society’s reactions towards someone or something can influence its behavior. If society has a cruel or negative reaction towards something, it could cause anything to act bitter and mean. If society has positive or encouraging reactions towards something, that could also cause it to act nice and kind. These are just a few of the many examples of how society really has a great influence on people or thing’s behaviors. In the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, Victor’s creature’s actions are a reflection of nurture. Victor’s creation, the monster, has nothing but good intentions. He was naturally a kind, gentle, sensitive creature looking for a friend. There are many examples of this when the creature is first created. For example, when the monster is secretly living with the cottagers, he continues to eat their food without them knowing. Eventually, he sees that the cottagers are poor and feels bad for eating their food. In return, the monster begins to do good deeds for them. It shows how the monster’s traits of kindness and compassion are revealed to the reader as he states, ” I had been accustomed, during the night, to steal a part of their store for my own consumption, but when I found that in doing this I inflicted pain of the cottagers, I abstained and satisfied myself with berries, nuts, and roots which I gathered from a neighbouring wood. I also found that the youth spent much of their day collecting wood for the family fire, and 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. I remember, the first time I did this, the young woman, uttered some words in a loud voice, the youth joined her, who all expressed surprise. I watched with great pleasure” (page 96.) This quote illustrates how the monster’s kindness towards the cottagers.
Approximate Word count = 1263
Approximate Pages = 5.1
(250 words per page double spaced)
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