Childhood is often perceived as a time of innocence and purity. However, it is also the period in which a person's fundamental character is established, which can be easily influenced by the conditions of the child's environment. Alias ​​Grace, a novel by Margaret Atwood, contains many themes centered around the concept of childhood and the influence of a person's past. The book features a famous convicted murderer, Grace Marks, and a doctor, Simon Jordan, who interviews her in the Kingston Penitentiary where she is being held to uncover the truth behind the convicted crime. In the novel, the relationship between Grace and her family contributes most to her character's development throughout her life. Grace's familial influence causes her to develop independence, protective characteristics, and murderous thoughts that all influence her actions later in life. The conditions of her childhood are essential factors and contribute to Grace's individuality. Grace's numerous siblings and strong-willed mother have caused her to develop a strong independence in order to survive. He was born into a poor family of many siblings with a submissive mother and a violent father. Grace is the eldest among her many siblings, who remain at home and in contact, which has led to her having many responsibilities. Dr. Jordan often held talk sessions with Grace to uncover her connection to the murder of her employer and the house's head servant. Their talks mostly consist of telling Grace about her life. During one of Grace's flashbacks, she recalls, “It was then that our father began to tell me that I was almost a grown woman […], it was time for me to go out into the world to earn my bread, […]” (Atwood 146). Halfway through...at an early age, Grace is forced to become independent to care for herself and her family. She is the main support of the family and therefore develops maternal and protective characteristics that will also manifest themselves in her relationships later in life. The formation of homicidal emotions in Grace as a survival mechanism also occurs in childhood and continues to plague Grace's thoughts as she grows up. Alias ​​Grace makes it clear that early childhood is a vital period in an individual's development. This period of time can drastically change a person's character as people are easily influenced at a young age. Therefore, instead of treating children as inexperienced and knowledgeless beings, they should be regarded as easily moldable blank slates with unlimited adaptability. Works Cited Atwood, Margaret. AKA Grace. New York, NY: Anchor, 1997. Print.