Nature vs nurture Nature vs nurture is portrayed as a central theme in Frankenstein. Shelley critiques the idea that people are born evil through the character of the Creature, who was shaped into his title through rejection and cruelty solely based on appearance. Shelley critiques societal expectations in the 19th century, demonstrating the corrupting nature of judgement and neglect. The creature initially starts off as an innocent newborn, unaware of his difference to everyone else, and simply longing for connection and community after being rejected immediately by his creator. He says “I was benevolent and good, misery made me a fiend.” The past tense highlights how he was innocent and innately virtuous, but is transformed by society and its abuse. He directly links his pain with rejection, demonstrating how he wasn’t born evil, but rather made into it. This reflects Rousseau’s belief of tabula rasa, that everyone is born a blank slate, and made monstrous by their environment and the world around them. The creature embodies the noble savage, illustrating that it is neglect and abandonment that leads him to reflect evil and immorality. Shelley critiques society’s failure to protect their vulnerable, because if anyone took the time to understand the monster rather than just judging solely based on first glance and his exterior, they would understand that he’s actually new to this world and he’s not as bad as he looks. Instead, he learns due to the world around him, that evil and cruelty is normalised, and so that becomes his idea of normal and he has no concept of good. This can make him feel insecure within himself, as he becomes a victim of his surroundings, and internalises all the negativity he receives. Shelley teaches us how a society who hates on someone for something they can’t change will only lead to chaos, either external chaos inflicted on the society that corrupted them, or internal chaos which leads to feelings of worthlessness and depression, and uses the Creature to highlight how it can even be both. In the middle of the novel, the creature is portrayed as a self educated outcast, someone who is intelligent, thoughtful, kind, yet still rejected. He teaches himself language, collects firewood for the DeLaceys when he sees how sad and hungry they are, and speaks in an eloquent manner, yet still he’s hated on by all mankind. He states “I am an abortion”, highlighting the deep existential despair he feels and how he was immediately and violently rejected, giving him no chance to be redeemed. The noun “abortion” highlights how he feels he was never meant to be born, and perhaps how he wishes he never was. This can put him into a deep state of depression, as he feels as though no one wants him, no one likes him, and no one cares for him, despite the huge amount of love and compassion he has in his heart. All because of something he didn’t choose and something he cannot change. This can of course corrupt an individual and distort their sense of morality, because if he is being judged solely because of his appearance, then he would want to use his exterior to get revenge and vengeance, and use his weakness to his advantage. Due to all the hate and rejection he receives, he becomes vengeful and emotionally detached, highlighting the damaging nature of rejection. He says “Evil thenceforth became my good”, to demonstrate how he has no other choice but to embody the only thing he ever received : hatred. He tells Frankenstein - his creator that fails his role as a parent and sets him up for failure by doing so - that he will “be with him on his wedding night.” This highlights how his transformation is complete, he has gone from innocent to immoral and destructive, using fear as power. The ambiguity of the statement heightens tension and suspense, and begs the question: is this revenge or desperation to be heard. The creatures evilness starts to mirror Victor’s earlier arrogance and hatred, emphasising how only giving people negativity will result in them giving it back. The true tragedy of the creature’s tale is that he truly had the potential to be a good, loving person, and he tried so hard to become one. Even after receiving so much hatred from society, he still believes in good when he sees the connection and love the DeLaceys have for each other, and that is the one thing in life he truly wanted. He tried his hardest to be benevolent, to be a kind person, but after that much rejection in such little time, he no longer can be good. His moral decay is not his own fault, but society’s, he tries his hardest to be good, probably harder than most people would, but he eventually realises he will never really belong, as he is discriminated against and rejected the entirety of his life. He finally feels he has no other choice but to commit suicide, a tragic ending to an even more tragic story.