1. Frankenstein Group Members: Dalina Tran, Natalie Ferman,
Noah Smith, Izaac Gonzales, Paul Leonardi
Muñoz 4th Period

2. Literal Meaning of Prompt
Nature vs. Nurture: is ones behavior influenced by DNA (Nature) or environment in which they are raised (Nurture)?
Is the creature’s eventual evil deeds a result of its DNA or method of creation, or is it a result of how it is treated after it becomes conscious?

3. Is the monster bad? The monster is not necessarily a monster.
Good and Bad/Evil
Good:
- Loves people
- Innocent
- Simply trying to figure out “secrets” of life
Bad:
- Hates people
- Commits evil crimes

4. How does his life experience change him?
Nurture
Only learns to be good or bad from its experiences
Shapes the monster into believing he is unwanted
Leads him to take revenge and become evil
Builds his hatred among other characters

5. What does the statement “Children must be taught to hate” mean in the context of the novel?
In the novel, Frankenstein creates a creature with no sense of mind and with no sense of nature. The creature, or monster, begins to live on his own after being abandoned by his own creator.
The statement “children must be taught to hate” means that children who present hatred towards others is due to observing others in acts of hatred.
In context of the novel, the statement is exemplified through the monster’s discovery of acts of hatred and rejection towards him. This causes him to react by committing evil crimes because of his hatred and fear towards humanity (nurture).

6. What are the sociological implications of the monster’s life, or of Victor’s?
Environment in which a child is raised is much more important to how a child matures and learns to act
Monster:
Learned of the cruelty of man-kind
Was warped by the cruelty of man
Victor
Understandable fear of the
introduction of technology

7. Examples & Analysis from text
“Believe me, Frankenstein: I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity; but am I not alone, miserably alone?”(122). – The Creature
Analysis: This relates to the prompt because the creature describes himself as being born as a good and innocent being, but Victor’s hatred towards him has caused him to hate and fear humanity.
“Cursed, cursed creator! Why did I live? Why, in that instant, did I not extinguish the spark of existence, which you had so wantonly bestowed? I know not; despair had not yet taken possession of me” (97). – The Creature
Analysis: The creature illustrates that he could have done terrible things if he wanted to, but he was not yet hated, so he did not hate others. By nature he is good, but he only hates when he is treated with his isolation and hatred.

8. Pivotal Significant Moments
Chapter 10
The creature explains to Victor that he is forced to hate for he is hated and has no way to love. He tries to tell his story for Victor to understand and he pleads for a female being to accompany him through his desolate isolation.
Chapter 20
When Victor decides to destroy the female, he forever changes what is The Creature. The Creature goes into a rage and after this moment The Creature is able to be perceived as a monster.

9. Literary Devices Literary Device: Imagery
“He held up the curtain of the bed; and his eyes, if eyes they may be called, were fixed on me. His jaws opened, and he muttered some inarticulate sounds, while a grin wrinkled his cheeks” (35).
Analysis: The first quote shows that while the creature may come off as startling, he is acting like a child, grinning and stumbling to speak while he hovers over Victor. This quote shows that the creature was not born bad, but innocent.

10. Literary Devices Literary Device: Diction
“’Have I not suffered enough, that you seek to increase my misery? Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it (68).
Analysis: This quote exhibits the misery the creature has gone through, yet, despite his hardships, displays his love for life. This further proves that the monster was not born bad, even when he is surrounded my misery, he can talk to Victor calmly and describe what has happened, controlling his emotions.

11. Literary Devices Literary Device: Tone
“’Oh Frankenstein! Generous and self-devoted being! What does it avail that I now ask thee to pardon me? I, who irretrievable destroyed thee by destroying all thou lovedst. Alas! He is cold, he cannot answer me’” (163).
Analysis: The final quote shows the creatures final moments in the novel, after he has committed many horrible acts, and it displays how his intentions were never to bring death to his creator. In the final scenes of the novel, the creature displays great sadness in the reflection of Victor’s death, proving furthermore that he was never evil, just born into a miserable life.

12. Point of View Victor: The Creature:
Believes the creature is inherently evil
The creature’s unattractive exterior is enough to convince Victor of the creature’s wickedness
Feels disgust towards his creation
The Creature:
Believes he was born innocent and in need of love and guidance
At birth, felt love for humanity
Believes abandonment and cruelty of humanity transformed him, leading him to seek his revenge

13. Relation to Mary Shelley
Shows nature vs. nurture through the fall of both Victor and the creature
Argues for nurture through her portrayal of the creature and his outcome
Ultimate fear being that men could use science and technology to replace the role of women in the reproductive cycle
Her novel warns against the horrors that can be caused when science and technology are taken to an extreme, surpassing the boundaries of mankind

14. How does cruelty function in the novel and what does the cruelty reveal about the perpetrator and/or victim?
In the Nature vs. Nurture argument, it can be said that the cruelty surrounding 100% of the creature’s life is responsible for its cruel views and actions.
This reveals that Nurture had a greater effect on the creature than Nature.

15. Works Cited
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