Uncovering Injustice: An Analysis of Social Inequality and Power Dynamics In Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, the idea of justice, or rather its absence, is navigated deeply throughout the story. This is shown through the exposure of the failures of the system and the general lack of truth within this setting. Through the perspectives of crucial characters like Justine Mortiz and the monster, Shelley uncovers the social inequalities and prejudices that deprive individuals of their basic human rights. Yet there are characters like Victor Frankenstein who are treated differently due to their higher status. This is a society where wrongdoings remain unpunished while innocence is punished and revenge is the only factor to end the suffering. Shelley …show more content…
When his body is found, Justine happens to be at the wrong place, at the wrong time. She is accused of the murder solely due to circumstantial evidence and prejudice directed toward the lower class. The monster plants Williams's locket that had a photo of Caroline Frankenstein in Justine's pocket. He discovers her in a barn and puts the locket “in one of the folds of her dress” and then “fle[es]” (Shelley 133). The monster knows that if he didn’t set her up, he would be the one accused of the murder, hence why he fled. This is just another form of injustice where the innocent are punished for the misdeeds of others. Justine is a young servant working in the Frankenstein household, lacking the status to help her defense. She is also more likely to experience bias and discrimination in court because of her vulnerability and devotion to God. As soon as the trial begins, the lonely Justine, without any representation, has witnesses called up and they use “several strange facts combined against her” (69). This implies that the information is unreliable and strange and that the truth was manipulated to provide the best evidence to convict