Nature Versus Nurture

The fact that Max is adopted and, more importantly, was adopted basically at birth introduces the question of what produces one’s character. Is it nature, meaning that one comes, as Eugene says, programmed with a genetic code that outside factors can only alter by a small amount no matter how hard they try, or does one’s environment shape their character? If this is the case, one’s environment is strong enough to overwrite a person’s genetic code.

When Max runs away and then the family learns of other strange behavior, like eating grass, Eugene argues that Max is a product of his genetic code. Eugene reminds Maya and Alex that they do not really know anything about Max’s genetic background and raises the question as to what do they not know about his background. Eugene’s limited knowledge of Montana...