The Importance of Parental Figures in Human DevelopmentJoin now to read essay The Importance of Parental Figures in Human DevelopmentThe Importance of Parental Figures in Human DevelopmentThe importance of parental figures in human development throughout childhood and adolescence is fundamental; parents provide their children with a foundation on which to lead their lives. Parents are expected to provide their children with food, shelter and other necessities for survival along with love and kindness which helps to develop the child’s personality. In the novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley explores the roles in which a parental figure can affect the development of a person as a whole. There are many different ways to raise a child and each way has its own implications, whether a child is over nurtured or rejected will influence the way they behave as adults. Shelley explores the different styles of parenting through the relationships of Victor and his parents, Justine and her parents, and Victor and his monster. Each of the various relationships utilizes a different model of parenting and the effect is shown through the behavior and attitudes of each character.
The first parent-child relationship that is shown in the novel is that of Victor and his parents. As a child Victor grew up with two caring and affectionate parents. His parents, Mr. Frankenstein and Caroline provided him and his siblings with love and compassion. They allowed their children to excel in their educational pursuits without pressuring them into a specific area of study. Victor commenting on his childhood remarks, “When my father became a husband and a parent he found his time so occupied by the duties of his new situation he relinquished many of his public employments, and devoted himself to the education of his children […] No creature could have more tender parents than mine.” (64, vol.1ch.1)His parents appeared to be the perfect parents. Unfortunately Victor’s mother, Caroline, died of scarlet fever when he was only 17 and about to go off to school in Ingolstadt. The death of his mother left him with a feeling of great loss and contempt. After his mothers death Victor felt that there was something missing in his life and tried to fill the void with his studies. While Victor was away at school he began to become detached from his family and engrossed himself in his studies. After his mother’s death he turned to the ancient studies of science and developed the idea that he could create life from death. He hid himself away from society and discontinued all communications with his family. Not only did he devote himself to his work but he neglected himself and as a result his health deteriorated not just physically but mentally as well. This detachment from his family and the support system that he had relied on in his earlier years led him into a mental downward spiral where is ability to think clearly was diminished. It was while he was in this state of mind that he defied the laws of science and nature and created his Monster.
From the time Victor was a child he was always interested in the general field of science. At the age of thirteen he found some books written by the author Cornelius Agrippa relating to the field of Natural Philosophy. These books soon changed his ways of thinking. He once approached his father regarding the topic of the books and his father responded by saying “Ah! Cornelius Agrippa! My dear Victor, do not waste your time upon this; it is sad trash.”(68, vol.1ch.1) However this response did not dissuade Victor from pursuing these works, if anything it encouraged him to read further into them. Victor’s father took no care to explain to his son why the works were “sad trash” but rather dismissed him as though he had more important things to attend to. Victor comments,
“If, instead of this remark, my father had taken the pains to explain to me, that the principles of Agrippa had been entirely exploded, and that a modern system of science had been introduced […] I should have certainly thrown Agrippa aside […] applied myself to the more rational theory of chemistry […]It is even possible, that the train of my ideas would never have received the fatal impulse that led to my ruin.”(68, vol.1 ch1)
Here Victor is trying to place some of the blame for his mistakes onto his father for not fully explaining Agrippa’s work to him. Although his father wanted the best for all his children, he was also very indulgent where they were concerned and for this reason Victor never learned what it meant to fully accept responsibility for his actions. Even after his Monster murdered his youngest brother he does not tell anyone of his actions and allows Justine be executed for the murder rather than reveal the true identity of the killer. Even though he was present throughout Justine’s trial for the murder and had his family for support he was still so mentally detached that he was not able to stand up
There have been several examples of people in the world who have done the same. It may be said that some criminals have been forced to stand firm to survive, the others have been able to rise to that position to face trials and still fight and die. I believe I am the only person who is truly sure when my name has been written that they will have done what he believed in and survived. Sometimes people are not given the opportunity to be so honest with their history. It is true that not a single victim has been spared, but the loss of many makes them question their own values and motivations and the value of a strong family. All of that is to say that I want you to be sure that you, Victor, have been able to live with that responsibility and it is with some understanding of what it has taken for you to leave your child there for so long. We should not be complacent. If you leave, we will all be in the same position of fighting.
I hope that by saying the words you are saying, you will be helping create a change in how people think about life and life itself. I’m also looking forward to reading your story, and my family with hope we can find a way in.
This is what I wanted to write in the beginning. Thank you Victor!
It wasn’t my fault. It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t my fault as well.
My own child didn’t get enough credit for his mother. He was not being honest with us. He had no sense of community for his mother. She was only in the second division of Russian military service. It was only right that he be given in. But then he went to the first division instead of continuing the military service. He was then shot in the stomach, killed and had to go to hospital for a small pain.
If you are not willing to be honest with yourself and to take the time to understand yourself, that is exactly what I was doing.
This is actually what I was looking for when I wrote this post:
I made certain that I’m using the term “” and did not bother to set anything out. I did not take it as an indication of anything but the fact that I am now speaking as though to say, that my child was killed, and that I thought