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Frankenstein critical analysis
Frankenstein: critical analysis
Frankenstein: critical analysis
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Frankenstein critical analysis
Frankenstein: critical analysis
Frankenstein: critical analysis
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Victor attempts to maintain this autonomy, but it begins to collapse when the murder of William occurs. After William’s murder the responsibility of the monster is revived and now Victor not only faces responsibility for the monster but also the death of William and soon to follow Justine. While Victor is fully aware of the responsibility he holds, describing himself as “the true murder” (Shelley, 109). Victor tries to remedy this responsibility in the same form as he did the first time with the monster, by simpling failing to outwardly acknowledge its presence. He does this at Justine’s trial, in which he would have had the opportunity to speak up in favor of her innocence he instead chooses to “rush out of the court in agony” (Shelley, 106).
By using foreshadowing and withholding information she is able to do this. Also by using foreshadowing, she creates the ability for the readers to make predictions on what is going to happen next and build suspense. Through analyzing the novel and making predictions, it is clear no matter what happens it will be suspenseful. Foreshadowing the death of characters in dreams, is a big indicator that death will be right around the corner. Also Shelley makes it clear her novel will not have a happy ever after ending.
By relating Elizabeth to the Christian idea of forgiveness, Shelley emphases the Jesus-like qualities of Elizabeth through her consoling of Victor. In Chapter 2 of Volume I, Victor swears revenge upon the wretch after it murders William and frames Justine for the murder. Elizabeth tries to console Victor, addressing his state of guilt and distraught. Elizabeth sees in Victor a desire for revenge despite not knowing Frankenstein’s creation actually committed the murder. In the previous page, she states that Justine may have been blamed because only a true wretch could have killed the child she raised for some jewels.
Shelley establishes the theme
The most important beginning to the murders of Victor’s loved ones was his younger brother William. A family friend by the name of Justine was set up by the monster to make it look like she had killed the young boy instead of being the monster who killed William. As said in the novel, “The figure passed me quickly, and I lost it in the gloom. Nothing in human shape could have destroyed that fair child. He was the murderer!”
With this simile at the beginning of Frankenstein, Shelley sets the family dynamic within the household. By comparing her to a “shrine dedicated lamp,” Shelley establishes Elizabeth as the quiet light, who represents virtue and the domestic anchor for the household. Elizabeth forms a foil to Victor’s rashness and egocentrism. This sets up for her loss later in the novel to wreck Victor’s psyche all the more heavily. By showing Victor chasing a form in the Arctic, distraught and emotionally wrecked, the reader knows Victor and the monster come into conflict eventually.
Frankenstein recovers and manages to find joy in life again until a letter from his father tells him that his brother, William, has been murdered. Frankenstien is convinced the monster has killed William. He learns that a servant in his family, Justine, is being accused of the murder and despite being sure she is innocent he is too scared to speak out. Justine is convicted and executed and Frankenstien suffers what he describes as “bitter agony” over her death. Frankenstein thinks William is so perfect that only something so truly vile as the beast could have killed him, “nothing in human shape could have destroyed that fair child.”
TH) In the excerpt from Frankenstein, Mary Shelley writes from Elizabeth's perspective in a letter to Victor. Elizabeth is explaining to him the situation at home while he is away. Victor's brother William has been murdered and Justine was executed for the crime even though she was not guilty. Elizabeth is very distraught and expressing to Victor how she sees the world differently now.
Brooks elaborates further, exploring the conviction of Justine, a character Frankenstein’s Monster frames for his crimes. As Brooks states, “The Creature plants the mother's portrait in the folds of her dress and flees, with the reflection: "The crime had its source in her; be hers the punishment!" The claim is curious and excessive, since Justine is in no manner the "source" of William's murder, which takes
You belong then to my enemy - to him towards whom I have sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim” (Shelley 102). After William’s death, the family maid, Justine, is accused of the murder. Frankenstein is well aware that Justine was not behind the murder of his younger brother, but it was the monster. Despite this knowledge, Victor kept quiet throughout Justine’s trial, through her condemnation and execution as well. Victor later proclaims to Walton that he is the true murderer, for both William and Justine.
The novel can be seen as a critique of the patriarchal society of the early 19th century. The female characters in the novel are largely passive and powerless, but they are also the moral center of the story. For example, Justine Mortiz, the Frankenstein family’s servant, was blamed for William’s death. The monster had placed a locket that belonged to William in Justine’s pocket, and she was subsequently found guilty of the murder and executed, despite her protestations of innocence. Victor was a man with a voice, who had the power to save Justine from execution, but he was too scared of ruining his own reputation.
When his brother, William, is found murdered, Victor believes the creature must have killed him, but Justine Moritz, the Frankensteins’ servant, is executed instead. Later, the creature approaches Frankenstein and tells him about living by the De Lacey’s household since Frankenstein abandoned him. A few months after the creature’s arrival, Safie, a Christian and Turkish woman, arrives. When the creature reveals himself to this family, they attack him, and, full of hatred, the creature later kills William and frames Justine for the murder. The creature requests a female creature for companionship, but Victor eventually destroys his new female creation.
The creature’s horrific features causes Victor to abandon the creature, leaving the creature indignant and hurt. In order for Victor to feel the hurt and abandonment the creature felt, the creature gets revenge on anyone associated to Victor-two of the victims being Elizabeth and Justine. The creature frames Justine by placing the picture of Victor’s mother next to Justine while she is sleeping, causing her to be framed for the the murder of William Frankenstein, and eventually executed. Victor knows Justine is not at fault and admits to “[suffering] living torture… all was to obliterated in an ignominious grave, and [him] the cause. A thousands times rather [he] have confessed [himself] guilty of the crime ascribed to Justine” (Shelley 68).
She sets the tone of this passage full of hatred from the Creature early which leads him to deceive Frankenstein resulting in the misuse of knowledge due to unchecked passion come to the forefront. The Creature’s scheme of appealing to Frankenstein’s emotions to manipulate him is again Shelley cautioning the idea about the misuse of knowledge through the use of binary
The servant, Justine, is accused of killing him. Victor thinks that it was the monster but thinking that no one would believe him, he didn't say anything. Victor, then goes on a trip to the Swiss Alps for a break. Coincidentally , he runs into the monster, who confesses to the crime and tells Victor about how he killed William. When Frankenstein runaway, he found himself alone and hideous.