Are people born with an inherent tendency for good or evil, or are these traits learned from our experiences and those things which influence our lives? The question of nature versus nurture has been a subject of controversy among experts for centuries, yet the debate still rages over which plays a larger role in shaping character and personality. Mary Shelley's literary masterpiece, "Frankenstein," is a fictional case study that clearly comes down on the side of nurture. Mary Shelley's depiction of the transformation of the creature's personality, as well as modern day examples, supports the idea that genetics do not play as prominent a role in shaping a person's character as do his or her exposure to mainstream media and interactions with other people in society. .
Genetics do not play a large role in shaping a person's character and personality. Nowhere is this argument more evident than in the innocence of a newborn baby. A newborn is brought into the world with no preset notions of good and evil, love and hate, or any other personality or character traits. This belief that a person's mind is a blank slate at birth is not a modern one. As early as the late seventeenth century, philosopher John Locke's theory of tabula rasa, "blank slate, "stated that "the human mind receives knowledge and forms itself based on experience alone, without any pre-existing innate ideas that would serve as a starting point" " (Tabula rasa "). Essentially Locke believes that genetics play no role in the development of personality or character. Each individual is simply a blank canvas waiting to be painted on by his or her experiences in society. This argument is supported in the modern world. .
There have been numerous recorded incidences of identical twins, who were separated at birth or during the early stages of life, exhibiting completely different personalities and characteristics. In a study of twelve such sets of twins, researcher Juel-Nielsen concluded that the sets of twin were very different in regards to attitude, ambitions, emotional reactions, and behavior (Joseph 7-8).
In the police report he is described as a monster, and the name catches on. ... Eventually Monster was sent to jail for his actions. ... To think that this sort of society exists inside the United States and cannot be controlled is terrifying. ... He was a terrible killer, living up to his name Monster. ... Monster has a reformation and dedicates his life to his brothers. ...
The monster ate my leg!!!! ... Monsters. What is a monster? ... Also, now I know that if monsters were real there would be bad ones and good ones, because it all depends on how you treat them, just like in Frankenstein, the monster is harmless until society rejects him because of the way he looked. But who are the real monsters in our society nowadays? ...
Ever since Mary Shelly wrote Frankenstein society has obsessed over non-human intelligence, especially beings created by humans. ... Frankenstein's monster (henceforth referred to as the Monster), created in the 1800's, has a contemporary. ... The Monster, rejected by his creator and by human society, eventually turned to misdeeds to wreak vengeance. ... The Monster eventually found acceptance with the explorer, although it wasn't enough for him and he still removed himself from human society. ... The creator of Edward's story was much more merciful to Edward than Mary...
There are in total three monsters in the novel: The creature, Frankenstein and the society surrounding them as the story develops. ... All it seeks is acceptance into a society. ... The second monster in the novel is, in fact, the society. ... The society is also what shapes people and in some cases that is what causes the problems. The society shaped out third monster, Victor Frankenstein himself. ...
Victor isolates himself out of society, leaving the monster to cause havoc in the village. ... The monster cannot befriend anyone in society, except a blind man because he does not run in fear when he sees the monsters grotesque features. ... Victor does nothing to help the monster, he leaves him to learn on his own, but no one in society will accept him, leaving the monster to be lost. ... He is an outcast to society and has no one that he can share his life with because no one understands him. ... In the end, the true monster is Victor because he creates the monster, which causes the destru...
The Monster Became Monstrous Because He Was Shunned Out Of Society Many lessons are fixed into Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, including how society acts towards the different. ... Society has set an unbreakable code individuals must follow to be accepted. ... When the monster ventured into a town"...... In a way the monster started out with a child-like innocence that was eventually shattered by being constantly rejected by society time after time. ... We as a society are the ones responsible for the transformation of the once child-like creature into the monster we all know. ...
By smothering science in religion, society gave way to rebellion. ... Society's inflexibility is what causes the initial conflict. Society is the true monster. ... Victor Frankenstein and his monster are merely victims of their society. The monster is not just society, but those who uphold it....
The Monster wanted to be accepted by society and fit in with every other human being. He was outcasted by society. ... The Monster feels like he is similar to Satan because they are both shunned by normal society. ... The Monster is frustrated at the fact that he can't fit in with society so he terrorizes everyone. ... The Monster shows how he wants to be a part of society and fit in. ...
As most adults know, there are no such things as monsters. ... Similar to the things that parents say to children about those monsters hiding underneath their bed, the monsters of Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, are not real, but fictitious creatures representing evil because of their attacks on the Anglo-Saxon societies. ... Cain is the source of all evil and monsters. ... Women who defied this ideal were thought of as monsters and these women were viewed as such: a monster. ... Evil and corruption were present in the Anglo-Saxon society and it is still present in today's soci...
Victor calls his creation "the monster", but I believe he is the real monster for creating him. ... In a way, this is similar to modern society in the sense that either parents get abortions, put their child up for adoption or just simply leaving them behind. ... Victor fails at his promise, leaving the monster exasperated and hurt once again. ... It seemed no matter how hard the monster tried to fit normally into society, there was always some fault that would prevent him from doing so. ... Society is like this in modern day in the way individuals are constantly expected to conform ...