The Truth Behind the Monster Essays

The Truth Behind the Monster Essays The Truth Behind the Monster Essay The Truth Behind the Monster Essay Does nurturing children have a positive outcome on their life? Or is it genetics that make children the way they are? Questions similar to these are addressed in the debate of nature vs Nurture. This argument centers around what controls our outcome: our environment or our genes. In Mary Shelley Frankincense, Victors creation, the intention of which was to help understand the concept of life and death, results in nothing more than destruction of his own life. Victor did not nurture the monster, even though it was eager for love and compassion the second Victor created it. After being repeatedly abused and rejected by others, the creature becomes evil. Both children and the creature in Frankincense share the basic psychological needs of love and affection that must be met in order for them to become active members in society. The nature vs Nurture dichotomy is an ongoing debate in psychology which centers around genetic inheritance and environmental factors to human development (Richardson 16). The main question is, are we shaped by our genes or by our environment? Many believe that individuals mold environments. Others say environments mold individuals. Genera Cherry, author of Everything Psychology, wonders when people accomplish tremendous academic success, did they do so because they are genetically predisposed to be successful or because of an enriching environment? Nurturing children has been proven to be one of the most effective ways for them to become successful and prosperous adults. The nurture side of the nature vs Nurture refers more to personal experience and childhood. According to Keith Richardson, author of Developmental Psychology, a supportive nurturing can enable each child to succeed happily within the parameters of his or her own impairment (Richardson 31). Most people are a product of their own circumstances. If a person grows up with no nurturing, or family, never knowing what it is like to have his or her basic needs met, he or she is less likely to show love to anyone. Kids who are born into a life of crime continue the life of crime because they do not know any other way. The social learning theory of psychology states that if a child observes aggressive behavior between parents, siblings, or both, he or she often copies this behavior, creating a cycle. Children need to be loved in order to how love. Jesse K. Denominated is a convicted murderer. He allegedly raped and murdered his seven-year-old neighbor, Megan Kane, in Hamilton New Jersey on July 29, 1994. He lured Kane into his house by offering to show her a puppy. He then proceeded to rape her. Denominated later strangled her with a belt. He placed the body in his truck, and assaulted her an additional time before placing Megan in a wooden toy chest and dumping it near Mercer County Park. When they searched Jesses house that night, he was very nervous, sweaty, and kept mixing up his stories. The next day, Denominated eventually confessed to his crimes and lead the police to the spot of Means body. Evidence of blood stains, hair, and fiber samples were found by police outside of Detainments home. Authorities also found a bite mark matching Megan Kansas teeth on his hand, leading him to be found guilty of kidnapping, four counts T aggravated sexual assault, Ana two counts AT Talons murder. He Tact penalty and a minimum of 30 years in prison (Glassblowers). All throughout his life, Jesse Denominated never knew what it was like to truly be loved and cared for. His mother, an alcoholic, who had ten different children with several men, never cared for Jesse. His father, a violent drinker with a criminal background, sexually abused Jesse and his brother day after day. Jesse also reported watching his father rape a seven year old girl. According to Carol Chock, a forensic social worker, Detainments father tortured and killed their pets, and that he once forced the brothers to eat their pet rabbit. The family also lived in poverty for a long period of time, and Jesse never sought proper medical attention for his clearly histrionically childhood. Under those terrible circumstances, could the murder of Megan Kane have been a result of Jesse Denominated lack of nurture as a child? When Frankincenses creation first came to life, he was deformed, but not necessarily a monster. His murderous actions turned him into one, but only after he was repeatedly abused and rejected by humans (Baldric 201). When the monster goes into hiding because Victor rejects him, he observes a family across the way and sees how people interact with each other. He sees affection and love, but he also sees hat everything is not always perfect. The monster responds strongly to the love the De Lackeys have for each other, and to Felids obvious sadness (Baldric 201). Frankincenses creation builds up the courage to tell the De Lackeys about what is happening to him. They immediately reject him because he is not a human, and he looks deformed. Even after Victor abandons him and Felix assaults him, the monster tries to save a drowning girl. However, because of his appearance, the girls father tries to kill the monster. The monster shows the romantic notion that good nature ND kindness are inherited qualities in human beings (Bloom 201). The monster knows that people despise him because of his horrible appearance. He also learns that society does not always accept people who look differently. The monster even says, all men hate the wrenched (Shelley 81). When he kills William, Frankincenses brother, its because he wants Victor to feel the same pain he does. He doesnt do it because of the nature in which he was created. The monster hopes that if Victor feels his pain, he will create a partner monster to love him. Victor refuses, making he monster even more upset. Victor willingly accepts responsibility for the creatures existence, but he fails to understand that his own actions after the creatures birth, as well as the treatment of the creature by other humans, are responsible for the creatures malevolent behavior (Killed 186). Victor is ignorant when it comes to whom to blame for Williams death. The monster did nothing wrong until he was denied by society. Similar to Denominated, Victor Frankincense lacked the proper nurture as a child. Although not thoroughly described in the book, his father spent his younger days perpetually occupied by the affairs of his country (Bloom 178). His mother died of Scarlet fever Just weeks before he left for Inconstant. Victor was also in love with his adopted cousin, Elizabeth, and had further plans to marry her. Victors childhood was not ideal, and having his mother pass shortly before his experiment could have greatly effected the outcome. In the beginning of Victors experiment at Inconstant, Victor hoped that by creating the monster, he would gain a better understanding of Tie. However, little 010 en Know, ten monster would Instead destroy Nils Tie. E monster kills William, Victors family is in danger of being killed, but Victor does not warn anyone. Victor also knows the creature killed William but refuses to step forward when Justine is being questioned because he doesnt want his family to think he is crazy. The monster may have killed William, Henry, and Elizabeth, but Victor created the monster. Victor also knew who killed William and never said a word when Justine died. So, who is the real monster here? Jesse Detainm ents committed the crimes he did because he followed the example his father set for him. He didnt mean to hurt a young innocent girl, but his father mentally corrupted him. Jesse observed the aggression and sick behavior of his father as a child; therefore, he was more likely to repeat them. Never knowing what a stable family life was like, Jesse committed a horrible crime on account of his fathers atrocious parenting. So, who is to blame in these situations? Jesses father set him over the edge, and Victor ignored the monster, giving him no love or attention whatsoever. Therefore, the monster went to drastic measures. Because their basic psychological needs were not met, both Jesse and Frankincenses creature acted rashly and without reason. Despite his unnatural birth, Frankincenses creation exhibits the same attitude of a young child discovering the ups and downs of life. An example of this can be seen when the monster discovers fire, I found a fire which had been left by some wandering beggars.. In my Joy I thrust my hand into the live embark but quickly drew it out again with a cry of pain (Shelley 89). The monster has no life experiences and no one to show him right from wrong. The Delays can be named the monsters first returns. Although they may not have known it, they made him aware of human relationships and emotions. He eventually feels the need of physical pain and hunger and starts to steal the Delays food. The monster says he stops stealing the food because he found out that in doing this he inflicted pain on the cottagers (Shelley 96). The Delays first teach him kindness, love, and the bonds of family and friends. If he truly was a monster, he would have no capacity for love and companionship. Both the monster and Jesse Detainments never knew what it was like to love ND be loved. Although they may have witnessed different forms of the thought of love, they both never felt it for themselves. They went to catastrophic measures to find the nurture their life had lacked. Both of their actions may have been wrong, but Victor and Jesses parents take part in their rash decision making. It is important for children to be nurtured in order for them to succeed. Without nurture, their basic needs may not be met and this can lead to a corrupt adulthood. Sometimes it is not about what youve done, but how youve gotten there.