Nature Vs. Nurture In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

There are many different opinions on what the theme is in Mary Shelley’s, Frankenstein. There is question of whether it was a feminist text or nature versus nurture, and while all themes are present, the largest theme in this novel is Victor’s abandonment of his creature and the cruelty in his actions. Victor leaves this monster he creates all alone with no guidance or friends to help him in his journey to becoming human like. Although the monster may be responsible for his own actions, Victor’s cruelty in abandoning his creation plays a large role in why the monster acts out in ways he did.

Throughout the novel, there are many instances of cruelty shown to the monster all because Victor was not seeing the whole picture and the severity of creating a monster. The obvious mistreatment of the monster starts as soon as Victor brings him to life. Victor can not stand the “the breathless horror and disgust” (Shelley 50) he feels when he sees the monster. It is not the

The good intentions are lost however when Victor starts to only think about himself and not how the creature will be. Victor does not even think to give his creature a soul, let alone a name. That alone will show he did not value this monsters life as a human. He never thinks that the creature will be “alone, and miserable”(Shelley 171), because how the monster will feel never crosses his mind. Victor doesn't realize the severity of what he does until the creature comes to life and he realizes the monster he's created. The way Victor cowardly runs from his creation will obviously take effect on the creature. He has to fend for himself and he does not have a role model. Since he has been left, no love has been shown to him which will undoubtedly make him “miserable beyond all living things” (Shelley 100). Victor is hateful and does not treat this being as his own, so it leads to a series of inhumane actions from the