Where does the Power Lay?
At what age does a person become an adult? If children are left at an early age to fend for themselves, do they mature into adults more quickly than children who are coddled? Since the age when the life-changing step from childhood to adulthood varies depending on the person, the exact moment when a child crosses that maturity threshold into adulthood, in not known. However, all people have unique experiences that guide and even determine when they become an adult, and therefore, the moment can be somewhat estimated. Those experiences, along with the influences of their parents mold children into the adults which they are to become. Throughout the novel Frankenstein, Marry Shelley, the author, uses theses defining experiences, as well as parenting and the child's environment to show the their positive effects and consequences, on a child, during the transformation to an adult. Overindulgence in childhood can lead to immaturity in adulthood. Some children, usually only children or the youngest child of a family receive special treatment, able to acquire what they want with less trouble than another sibling. Always getting what they want can cause them to believe that life will always be kind and fruitful. Victor Frankenst
ein, for example, as a youth is given everything he wants. His parents love him so much that they "were possessed by the very spirit of kindness and indulgence" (23). As a result of Victor's parents indulging him, he believes that Elizabeth, his new sister, actually belongs to him. Victor, interpreting his mother's words, "with childish seriousness," looks upon Elizabeth as his own, "to protect, love, and cherish"(21). This action signifies that he, as a child, thinks that everything is for him, and, as he grows up, he holds onto that idea. Without some hardships in life, such as not obtaining what they want, children will lack the skills to provide for themselves and others in the real world. Victor never truly notices that life is not always fair until he creates his abominable monster and flees because of his newfound responsibility. His inability to accept this responsibility stems from, being over indulged, having everything done for him, and not having to take responsibility for his own actions as a child. His lack of responsibility in his childhood leads to his abandonment of his creation, because he is brought up believing that someone else will take the responsibility of the monster. The parenting style of Victor's parents, which may seem good, actually leads to the problems which Victor encounters later in life. The ideas Merry Shelley conveys about the shaping of adults, through their childhood are that, overindulging children causes them to be less mature adults because of their lack of responsibility, parental influences are a major factor in a child's future, and the pain of childhood experiences, if not properly dealt with can have negative affects in the future. Even though no children will never become the "perfect adult", their influences, and experiences as a child will undoubtedly shape their adulthood. Depending on what these experiences are, the child as an adult will become good, bad, or most likely, something in-between the two. The parenting skills which parents apply will n
Some common words found in the essay are:
Cornelius Agrippa, Victor Frankenstein, Merry Shelley, , Marry Shelley, Agrippa Roman, victor's parents, child adult, emotional pain, victor's father, cornelius agrippa, perfect adult, lack responsibility, pain children, creating monster, experiences child,
Approximate Word count = 1367
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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