There are many examples of social injustice throughout the book Frankenstein. One example would be Justine’s trial. Justine, the girl who used to live with the Frankenstein’s as their servant, is put on trial for the murder of William, Victor’s brother. As soon as Victor hears about the murder, he becomes almost certain that the monster he created was the one who committed the crime. Elizabeth and her father also believe that Justine, who was very trustworthy and compassionate towards everybody, especially William, is innocent. After Elizabeth testifies in Justine’s favor, “A murmur of approbation followed… but it was excited by her generous interference, and not in favour of poor Justine, on whom the public indignation was turned with renewed …show more content…
Because of his appearance, everyone is frightened and horrified upon seeing him. The monster, speaking to Victor, says, “…they spurn and hate me. The desert mountains and dreary glaciers are my refuge. I have wandered here many days; the caves of ice, which I only do not fear, are a dwelling to me, and the only one which man does not grudge. These bleak skies I had, for they are kinder to me than your fellow-beings” (69). He lives in fear, running from one place to another looking for a place to hide. Even his acts of kindness are met with violence and hate on the humans’ side. For example, he kindly collets firewood for his neighbors every day and places it in front of their cottage door, yet when the son finds him at his cottage trying to become acquainted with his blind father, he drives him away. Also, after he saves a girl from drowning, the man accompanying her shoots him. The monster protests this social injustice by swearing to revenge himself against all humans. He starts off by killing William and placing the picture that he has been holding in the pockets of Justine’s dress. Then, he strangles Henry, Victor’s friend, and finally murders Elizabeth on her and Victor’s wedding
In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein puts the monster in a predicament that victimizes the monster. Victor creates the monster to be an “ugly wretch”(Shelley 141) therefore causing the monster grief for his entire life. The monster experiences severe loneliness for being an outcast. The monster is the greatest victim in this novel because of his creation, his loneliness, and everyone’s general fear or lack of concern for him.
The disappointment is not only irrational, but also shows his further jaded ideal of perfection in the fact that he considers ugliness a weakness. If that were true, ugliness would be the creature's only weakness, as the story goes on to tell of the selfless acts of kindness the creature administers. Victor describes his supposed miserable failure as a deformed monster when he says "His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of lustrous black, and flowing his teeth of pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only form a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same color as the dun-white sockets in which they were set, his shriveled complexion and straight black lips" (56; ch.5; vol.1). Later, Victor sees the creature after a long period of his aimless roaming, and he "trembled with rage and horror" (95; ch. 3; vol .2). Victor wished to engage in mortal combat because he had a faint premonition the creature might have possibly killed his son. The senseless idea was formed simply because of the creature's physical features, and that he may have been in the vicinity. Even though the monster was shunned, hated, labeled prematurely as a killer, and cursed by his very own maker, he sees the goodness of the human heart and desires to learn more about the human race. As the supposed monster journeys onward, he is delighted and allured by the moon and sun, and other peaceful,
Have you ever discriminated against someone or been discriminated against because you were different? Frankenstein is a book that explores difference in a society, to explore this theme a monster is created to give the idea of rejection. This monster is rejected everywhere he goes because of his difference. He is rejected by his creator, and then he is rejected by the villagers, by the farmers who the monster had so long admired and in the end by the reader himself.
When the monster is betrayed by Victor the only thing that comforts his hurting is the thought and idea of revenge. The monster goes after Victor's brother, little William. When Victor finds out about his loss, he knows it was the monster which had made him feel devastated about what has occurred. This broke Victor emotionally because the relationship he had with his brother was robust. Victor cared about his brother more than his owned wife Elizabeth. The mindest the monster had was knowledgeably because of the way he knew taking the closest person away from Victor will harm him the most.
In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, acts of cruelty serve as the driving force behind many tragedies within the novel. Set in 18th century Switzerland, Victor Frankenstein embarks on a horrifying journey to satisfy his growing desire to create life. However, Victor and his creation are overcome by their selfish agendas and growing hatred of one another, creating seemingly endless misfortune for their selves. The enemies' constant misunderstandings of each other ultimately turn an innocent victim into an inconsiderate and hate-filled monster.
Victor endangers people by not warning them about the creature. When Henry Clerval arrives in Ingolstadt, Victor explains his haggard appearance by telling him that he has been too “deeply engaged in one occupation” (88) to allow himself sufficient rest. He does not tell Henry any details about this occupation because he cannot bear to think about his creature. When Victor invites Henry to his apartment, he “[dreads] to behold this monster; but [he fears] still more that Henry should see him” (88). This shows that he is more concerned about Henry finding out how he has been spending his time than he is about his own safety. He does not want to tell his secret to his very close friend. For this reason, Victor makes Henry wait at the bottom of the stairs while he checks his apartment for the creature. Shortly after they enter the apartment, Victor becomes ill. His illness lasts several months. Since he is the only person who knows about the creature’s existence, there is nobody who can search for it while he is ill. During Victor’s illness, William Frankenstein, his youngest brother, is murdered by the monster. Although the
When the monster returns, he learns of the family’s sudden plans to move away. With no other direction, the monster seeks out answers from his creator. He comes across Victor’s papers, which reveal his identity and residence. With his newfound information, the monster decides to find his way to Victor. Throughout his journey his curiosity begins to turn into hatred and rage towards his creator. As he treks across the continent he discloses, “the spirit of revenge is enkindled in my heart” (119). This shows the monster’s capability of harboring dark emotions; it shows his benevolence quickly slipping away.
This objectification ultimately leads to Elizabeth’s death because the creature kills Elizabeth since she means so much to Victor and is “his” most valued
The monster is becoming even more like the horror character that most people picture, very dangerous. For example, when Victor arrives in a town, he hears that a man was killed. He is taken to this man and he ends up being his best friend, Henry Clerval. He sees huge hand prints all over his neck, and knew it was the monster who killed him. “I entered the room where the corpse lay and was led up to the coffin. How can I describe my sensations on beholding it? I feel yet parched with horror, nor can I reflect on that terrible moment without shuddering and agony. The examination, the presence of the magistrate and witnesses, passed like a dream from my memory when I saw the lifeless form of Henry Clerval stretched before me” (Shelley 216). This quote demonstrates that the monster is coming after the friends of Victor because he is not pleasing the monster. Also, this is the third person that the monster has killed that is very close to Victor. Therefore, showing that him being dangerous, is being taken to another level. Similarly, when William was killed, Justine, a close family friend, was accused of killing him. “During this interval, one of the servants, happening to examine the apparel she had worn on the night of the murder, had discovered in her
Victor, after being convinced to create a female companion for the monster, realizes that this will only create double the amount of destruction, he then makes the choice to discontinue his project to prevent more devastation. Instead of less damage resulting from this choice it only brings more harm to his life and everyone around him. First, his good friend Henry Clerval is murdered by the beast and Victor is accused of this murder, “The human frame could no longer support the agonies that I endured, and I was carried out of the room in strong convulsions.” (Shelley 129). This was Victor’s reaction upon seeing Henry’s corpse and demonstrates how deeply his pursuit for knowledge affects him. Even though he is later released on circumstantial evidence, he will be scarred for life knowing that he responsible for yet another death. Given that Victor destroyed the monster’s only hope of having someone else like him in the world; the monster swears revenge and that he will return on Victor’s wedding night. Victor misinterpreted this warning and instead of the monster attacking Victor, his creation attacked and
The creature’s life begins with rejection from the man who created him. The very moment the monster awakes he is haunted by darkness and is feared. “It was dark when I awoke; I felt cold also, and half frightened, as it were, instinctively, finding myself so desolate”(Shelly 71). The moment Victor created this
Mary has experienced what the true meaning of social justice is like. What does social justice have to do with Shelly’s Frankenstein book and why it is compared to the modern world? Her book explains some reasons why some of her characters have encountered social justices and injustices and their relationship to this. Mary also points out some evidence from the text and uses them to what extent that people do in society when it’s corrupted.
In the story Frankenstein the characters have problems involving with justice or injustice. Justine is an example because she shows the true injustice in the story. The injustice is that she was accused of killing her own brother which in reality the creature was the one who murdered him. They start to accuse her for the reason that they found the locker of her mother in her pocket. Victor who is present at the trial knows the truth that she was innocent but he decided not to stand up for Justine. Since Victor failed to tell the truth of this accusation they decided that the next day they will hang
She was framed for murder in court and was pressured by a man into confessing to a crime she did not commit: “God knows how entirely I am innocent. But I do not pretend that my Dawit 2 protestations should acquit me”(Shelley,70) . Justine was unable to defend herself against the false accusation, claiming “But I have no power of explaining it… I am only left to conjecture concerning the probabilities by which it might have been placed in my pocket” ( Shelley,66). And she was put to death for being unable to prove her innocence.
In Frankenstein, we can see just how flawed and unaccepting human society is. When the monster in Frankenstein was created, he was a harmless creature. He was like a big child, taking in and learning from everything he saw. Victor was frightened of the monster and did not properly guide and teach him about how human