Nature vs Nurture

When Frankenstein creates Mo, he is immediately filled with disgust and fear. He abandons him, without anyone to protect him or teach him about the world. He is not brought into existence with the knowledge of good and evil, socially acceptable behavior, or even how to speak. All alone, he begins to wander through the world. Whenever he encounters people however, he is greeted with horror and rejection. The desire he has to help others is not received with gratitude or even understanding. Instead it is overshadowed by his hideous appearance, and people flee from his presence. He finds shelter and instruction for a time in the De Lacey family. As his presence remains unknown to them, he is able to stay and teaches himself their language Once he has mastered it he begins to read, as well as learn some history through their conversations. They provide the means of learning that he needs to grow into a civil being.

When Mo tries to reveal himself to the De Lacey family however, they too are horrified. This universal rejection causes a hate for people to grow in him, a hate that he turns specifically to his creator. He admits that he murdered William when the boy mentioned that Alphonse Frankenstein was his father. Although there is absolutely no excuse for this extreme action, I can understand how he came to that point. He is not only rejected and despised by everyone he meets, but also completely alone in his suffering. The relentless abuse he receives from humans is easily twisted into his own hate, specifically the one who brought the possibility of his pain into existence. This is what leads him to a place where he is so consumed with hatred that he would kill an innocent young boy. His initial good intentions are plunged into darkness because of the way he is treated.

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