Thompson #3

 A person’s attitude is generally not changed just by itself but is usually a direct result of the actions of others and Mary Shelley is able to aptly demonstrate this in her 19^th century horror novel Frankenstein. I initially began reading this book with the automatic assumption that the “monster” was evil mostly due to the fact that Frankenstein’s monster has been pop culture symbol of freaks and all things scary ever since I can remember. But upon further reading I realized it was only the perception of the monster that made it metamorphisize into a creature whose mission of revenge against the one who created him quickly turns into one of impotent envy and bitter indignation filled me with an insatiable thirst for vengeance." (pg. 164). On its own the monster had been good hearted and kind creature, because it hadn’t been taught any different. But are humans, or in this case monsters, inherently good or inherently evil? Humans as a natural state are individually hardwired differently. Due to this observation this question is impossible to answer with a simple yes or no. When a person is born they can be taught to be good and kind and wholesome but of they do not posses those qualities in their heart then its useless trying to change a person who is designed for an attitude which is less than positive. Yet some, who are born good, are pushed to the evil side through the bitter action of others, much like Frankenstein on his myriad of negative encounters with the local villagers. Initially he approached the people he met with kindness and love but after a few too many negative experiences he became both wary and suspicious of the society in which he was placed. His attitude violently changed and “Evil thenceforth became my good” (164). This way of changing the inherent nature of others is a price that many people seem to pay. Whether its good innocent children turned bad through bullying or a nice monster turned vicious killer through the hurtful actions of other, much of the time the good who are pushed, end up going bad.