A Thematic Essay On Frankenstein

Step 1: Freewrite “What Does It Mean To Be Human?”

A human being is a sentient living creature, who has the superiority of knowledge and free will. Human beings tend to live their lives according to their own choices (will) to attain power in their social strata. A human being is born as a clean slate without any innate qualities of good or evil. However, it learns its moral principles and way of living from society. To survive in society, a human being learns and adapts its qualities from society. Therefore, it can be said that a person is not born good or evil. Society makes him good or evil.

Step 2: Research

TITLE: The Human–Nature Relationship and Its Impact on Health: A Critical Review

HYPERLINK: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2016.00260/full

Facts and Quotes:

1. In human nature, the concept of power can be characterized as “A person, institution, physical event or idea… because it has an impact on society: It affects what people do, thinks and how they live” (Turner).
2. The three basic components of human nature within the paradigms of health are social, psychological, and physical health.
3. Human nature is immensely impacted by survival instincts and the power struggle.

TITLE: Human Nature: An Interdisciplinary Biosocial Perspective

HYPERLINK: https://www.springer.com/journal/12110

Facts and Quotes:

1. Human behaviour can be understood by “the investigation of the biological, social, and environmental factors”.
2. The three disciplines of biological, social, and environmental factors are mutually interrelated.
3. The interaction of sociological, evolutionary, and sociological processes brings light to human social behaviour.

TITLE: Perceptions of Nature, nurture, and Behaviour

HYPERLINK: https://lsspjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/2195-7819-9-13

Facts and Quotes:

1. Human nature and behaviour encapsulate “the relative influences of nature/genes and nurture/environment” (Levitt)
2. The argument of nature vs nurture is considered old and useless (Craddock, 2011, p.637).
3. The concept of nurture is more significant in forming human nature and behaviour. “The environment in which a child grows up, particularly the influence and role of the parent, shapes how a child will grow up and what sort of adult they will be” (Levitt).

Step 3: Pre-Writing

CHARACTERISTIC: Human desire for power

RATIONALE: Frankenstein creates the creature to satiate his desire for power and knowledge. The creature takes revenge on Frankenstein by exhibiting his power by killing his loved ones.

EVIDENCE: Frankenstein created the sapient creature to discover “the secrets of life and death” (Shelley p.97).

CHARACTERISTIC: The significance of nature and nurture of human nature

RATIONALE: The creature is vulnerable and dangerous because of its nature and nurture. Its nature made him hideous and dangerous, the society treated him in a bad manner which made him miserable also.

EVIDENCE: “I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind” (Shelley p.242).

CHARACTERISTIC: Human nature is emulsification of biological, social, and environmental factors

RATIONALE: The creature was a good and loving being. He was looking for love and affection. However, the cruel treatment by society makes him a dangerous enemy.

EVIDENCE “I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous.” (Shelley p. 273).

CHARACTERISTIC: The importance of physical features in Human nature

RATIONALE: The physical feature plays a significant role in the life of the creature. The creature is not a normal-looking person which makes him alone and generates negative treatment by society.

EVIDENCE “I am alone and miserable. Only someone as ugly as I am could love me.”

(Shelley p. 277)

CHARACTERISTIC: Human nature can be perceived through social, psychological, and physical health.

RATIONALE: The creature is lonely and desires to find love and affection. However, his physical health makes it difficult for him to socialize with other people.

EVIDENCE ” My person was hideous and my stature gigantic. What did this mean? Who was I? What was I? Whence did I come? What was my destination? These questions continually recurred, but I was unable to solve them.” (Shelley p. 246)

Step 4: Essay Writing

The sapient creature in the novel Frankenstein can be identified as a human because it encapsulates all the humane characteristics and attributes as explicated above. This creature reflects upon those vulnerable individuals who are in a constant struggle to find answers in society. These people are rejected by society and therefore become dangerous to society. They only desire love, affection, and sincerity. The components of nature and nurture play a significant role in shaping nature and behavior of the creature. In a nutshell, the significant component of Creature’s humanity relies on the role of society. The creature’s humanity is immensely impacted by society.

Works Cited

Craddock, Nick. “Horses for courses: the need for pragmatism and realism as well as balance and caution. A commentary on Angel.” Social Science & Medicine 73.5 (2011): 636-638.

Levitt, Mairi. “Perceptions of nature, nurture and behaviour.” Life Sciences, Society and Policy 9.1 (2013): 1-11.

Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Broadview Press, 2012.

Turner, John C. “Explaining the nature of power: A three‐process theory.” European journal of social psychology 35.1 (2005): 1-22.