A central message throughout Frankenstein is that people be held accountable for their actions whether justly or unjustly. One of these actions consistent in the story was the act of murder. Murder was a crime commonly committed and punished throughout the story. The first murder mentioned in the story was the murder of William Frankenstein the younger brother Victor Frankenstein. Justine did not commit the crime, but she was urged to confess so she would not go to hell. "Justine Moritz! Poor, poor girl, is she accused? But it is wrongfully; everyone knows that; no one believes it, surely…" (Shelly, 62) Although no one may have believed that Justine was guilty of this crime, she was put to death by hanging. Another character from …show more content…
Before 1829 most of Europe did not have a police force. (The Proceedings) If there was a police force, it was small and they were paid nothing, " The pay lists show that the total net salaries for officers amounted to £7.3s.4d a week." (Crime and Punishment) Even in today 's market this would amount to about $1000.00 divided by the entire force per week. At this same time the population of Europe was increasing due in part to the industrial revolution. This increase also brought with it an increase in the crime rate which led to a time known as the "Bloody Code" where crimes were punished with very harsh penalties. (Crime and Punishment) " In 1688 there were 50 offences which carried the death penalty. This is amazing by modern standards when even murder gets only imprisonment, but by 1800 there were 200 offences punishable by hanging. The eighteenth century was thus a period of expanding use of capital punishment. People were being hung for all manner of petty crimes. Some court records show that during the two years 1774-6 people were hung for arson, cattle stealing, 'destroying silk on a loom ', 'willfully wounding a horse ', sheep stealing, swearing false oaths, 'impersonating another to receive a seaman 's wage ', and similar." (Law, Ideology and the …show more content…
This song reflected how the police force pervasively used hanging or "death above ground" (King,2006) as punishment and how distrusted and corrupt they were.
Packington 's Pound
Beggar 's Opera Air XLIII
Thus Gamesters united in Friendship are found,
Though they know that their Industry all is a Cheat;
They flock to their Prey at the Dice-Box 's Sound,
And Join to promote one another 's Deceit.
But if by mishap
They fail of a Chap,
To keep in their Hands, they each