Frankenstein is amongst society’s most renowned examples of gothic literature. First published in 1818, the novel follows scientist Victor Frankenstein as he constructs and injects life into a creature composed of a corpse. Due to the numerous themes conveyed in the text, Frankenstein is frequently perceived as one of the first novels of the science fiction genre (History.com, 2015).
One such theme readily depicted throughout the novel is the concept of parental responsibility, which refers to the duties parents have in order to care for their children. Standards and perceptions regarding this notion have varied throughout the centuries, to the point where today parental responsibility is largely thought to be one of the most detrimental factors in the shaping of a child’s personality. This concept can be defined by Tabula Rasa, a Latin phrase for ‘Blank Slate’; the theory of educationalist John Locke. Locke was an avid believer in the thought that a child’s mind was neutral at birth, and that the child was neither “good” nor “evil”; its actions would be shaped primarily through its upbringing and the values instilled in it by its parents (UMich, n.d.). Parents in today’s society as often viewed as figures of guidance as opposed to figures of absolute authority. Children are supplied with an increased amount of freedom to achieve their aspirations and goals, encouraged to maintain an open-minded outlook when it comes future possibilities. Parents are more inclined to allow the child’s personality to progress and define the type of person they are, albeit still aim to instil positive values and attributes in their offspring. This allows for individual development on the child’s part; a contrast to the tabula rasa theory which states that a child’s development and mindset are directly and solely influenced by their environment. |