Examples Of Injustice In Frankenstein

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Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein written in 1817, and published in 1818. Almost 200 years later the novel is still being printed and sold around the world. The novel is due to its science fiction and horror themes, as well as its great messages about inner beauty. Frankenstein also includes the theme of injustice, which effects almost all of the characters. The injustice in the novel is mainly felt by the two main characters, Victor Frankenstein and his Monster. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein the theme of injustice is the direct cause of the sympathy that readers’ feel towards Frankenstein and his Monster. Initially, Frankenstein’s injustice towards his creation causes readers’ to have sympathy for The Monster. The first instance where Victor shows …show more content…

The readers’ sympathy is evoked towards Victor when The Monster murders a member of Victor’s family. The Monster murdered Victor’s youngest brother William, right before The Monster committed this act of injustice he said, “Frankenstein! You belong then to my enemy to him towards whom I have sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim.’ “The child struggled and loaded me with epithets which carried despair to my heart; I grasped his throat to silence him, and in a moment he lay dead at my feet” (16). The monster murdering Victor’s younger brother William. This is an example of injustice because William is just an innocent child who has committed no offence towards the monster. This act of injustice causes readers’ have sympathy for Victor because his own creation killed his brother, this causes Victor to blame himself for his brother’s death. Additionally, Frankenstein is unjust towards Justine when he says, “I was firmly convinced in my own mind that Justine, and indeed every human being, was guiltless of this murder. I had no fear, therefore, that any circumstantial evidence could be brought forward to in convict her. My tale was not one to announce publicly; its astounding horror would be looked upon as madness by the vulgar” (7). Victor Frankenstein knows that Justine is not the person who killed William, yet he does not say this at the trial. This is an act of injustice towards Justine because Victor new the true killer but because he did not want to be thought of as a madman he did not speak at the trial, which resulted in Justine being convicted and executed. Victor must now deal with the anguish of believing that he is responsible for the death of both William and Justine. This causes readers to sympathise with Victor because he feel as though he is responsible for injustice towards Justine and William when The Monster is truly

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