'What Is Nature Vs. Nurture?' is a video presented by Dr. Max McDowell in which he outlines two fundamental yet opposing theories utilised to explain why an individual is who they are. By way of example to introduce both theories, he asks why an individual may become a musician. (McDowell, M "What Is Nature Vs. Nurture?" About.com) Nature theorists may argue that the individual's biological make-up that determines his or her's musical abilities. All qualities are believed to evolve through and embed within an inidviduals genes, constituting them as the person they are. McDowell comments that this theory has been substantiated through research which indicates that their are individual centres in the brain for particular skills and qualities and that these are dictated through the genes. He does however mention that the information theorists have gathered from genes is limited. (McDowell, M "What Is Nature Vs. Nurture?" About.com) Nurture theorists, however, argue that the musicians abilities have been determined by the environment he or she has grown up in. All of the individual's qualities are considered to have been constituted by the things they have experienced in social life and that without these experiences and individual would not be considered human. To tie this back to the example of a musician, a nurture theorist may argue that his or her musical talents stem from the individual's exposure to alot of music at a young age; the provision of an instrument and the encouragement of his or her family to hone this ability; the positive experiences the individual had through music which prompted them to continue learning etc. If the individual had not been exposed to the positive experiences of music then their interest in music may have been non-existent. (McDowell, M "What Is Nature Vs. Nurture?." About.com) The novel, 'Frankenstein,' will be discussed next to support the argument that how an individual is nurtured is primarily responsible for his or her personality.
Frankentstein is a novel which has constituted it each character's through their development within space and time. This can be substantiated if we recognise the mirrored qualities presented in both Walter and his parents and how they affect his relationship with Elizabeth. For example in chapter one Walter describes how his parents regarded him as a child:
'I was their plaything and their idol whose future lot it was in their hands to direct to happiness or misery, according as they fulfilled their duties towards me.' (Shelley, M. 2012 p.23)
This quotation conveys Walter as a being who, as a child was no more than his parent's possession that could be change as easily as the rules of a game. The way that they did this is noted as paramount to his emotional state as an adult. Furthermore, through this line of reasoning, Victor's understanding of how his parents perceived him a a child would be a result of how they nurtured him. Consequently, it may be argued that the similar interpretation of Elizabeth to Victor is a direct result of that notion being embodied unto him by his parents.
'On the morrow, she presented Elizabeth to me as her promised gift, I, with childish seriousness, interpreted her words literally and looked upon Elizabeth as mine – mine to protect, love, and cherish.' (Shelley, M. 2012 p.24)
Also, the use of the word, 'cherish,' in particular, which means to nurture, conveys Elizabeth as a being that Victor feels he can influence her personality, just as he feels his parents did to him.
This view may only have been established through his exposure to his parents attitudes and, in turn, the adoption of those attitudes.
References
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. London: Fantastica, 2012.
McDowell, M. "What Is Nature Vs. Nurture?." About.com. 19 Oct. 2014. [http://video.about.com/genealogy/What-Is-Nature-Vs]
