5.2.4

Chapters 7-9

Test yourself on Chapters 7-9

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Chapter 7

Victor receives a letter from his father with very grave news. The news means he has to return to Geneva to see his family.

William's murder

William's murder

  • Alphonse's letter informs Victor that William has been strangled to death and that the locket he wore containing a picture of his mother had gone missing.
  • Victor’s father urges him to return home, which he does, though he waits for two days in Lausanne, unable to face what lies at home, being moved by the sublime beauty of Mont Blanc.
Thunderstorm

Thunderstorm

  • Outside the gates of Geneva, Victor sees a storm.
    • In a flash of lightning, Victor thinks he sees his creation.
    • Victor becomes convinced that the Monster is responsible for murdering William.
Justine's accusal

Justine's accusal

  • When Victor returns home, he finds that Justine has been accused of William's murder. The missing locket was found on Justine,
  • Victor is convinced that Justine is innocent but keeps quiet as he fears he will look insane.
Changing sympathies

Changing sympathies

  • In this chapter, the reader begins to lose sympathy for Victor, who dwells only on his own suffering and self-pity.
    • Shelley's more sympathetic presentation of Justine and Elizabeth encourages the reader to side with them instead.

Chapters 8 and 9

Justine's trial goes ahead. Victor leaves filled with guilt and self-pity.

Victor's silence in court

Victor's silence in court

  • Justine’s trial takes place and all the family attend.
  • Victor convinces himself that he cannot tell the truth about the Monster as he was away when the murder took place and is worried people may view him as insane.
  • He is anxious, upset and frantic.
Justine's composure

Justine's composure

  • In contrast, Justine is admirable in her situation.
  • She is calm, collected and doesn't want to cry to upset the rest of the family.
  • In court, Justine gives her version of events, pleading not guilty and even Elizabeth makes a rousing defence to convince the court of Justine’s innocence.
Justine is condemned

Justine is condemned

  • Neither woman’s words are powerful enough to convince the court though, and Victor rushes outside in "agony", unable to hear the verdict.
  • The next day he finds out that Justine was found guilty and is condemned to death by hanging.
  • He also hears that Justine, after the trial, admitted to the murder and was confused, relaying this information to a very distressed Elizabeth.
Aftermath

Aftermath

  • Before being executed, Justine told Elizabeth that she only pleaded guilty because she feared that she would go to hell if she died having been found guilty of murder, but not having admitted it.
  • She believed that by owning up to the murder (even though it was false) she had more chance of salvation and redemption after death.
  • Victor feels enormous guilt for his part to play in the death of Justine and of William.
Victor's __"agony"__

Victor's "agony"

  • Victor "rushed out of the court in agony" before the verdict, saying Justine's "tortures did not equal mine".
  • This shows how Victor is still viewing himself as the victim, unable to face full responsibility for his actions.
  • His dismissive attitude of Justine’s feelings displays the treatment of women in the patriarchal society of the 18th/19th centuries.
Jump to other topics
1

Narrative Structure

1.1

Narrative Structure

1.1.1Narrative Structure1.1.2Narrative Distancing1.1.3End of Topic Test - Narrative Structure
2

Character Summaries

2.1

Walton & Frankenstein

2.1.1Walton2.1.2Victor Frankenstein2.1.3End of Topic Test - Walton & Frankenstein
2.2

The Monster

2.2.1The Monster2.2.2The Monster 22.2.3End of Topic Test - The Monster
2.3

Elizabeth, Justine & Henry

2.3.1Elizabeth Lavenza2.3.2Justine Moritz2.3.3Henry Clerval2.3.4End of Topic Test - Elizabeth, Justine & Henry
2.4

Families & Other Characters

2.4.1The Frankenstein Family2.4.2The De Lacey Family2.4.3Other Characters2.4.4End of Topic Test - Families & Other Characters
3

Intertextuality & Allusions

3.1

Intertextual References

3.1.1The Modern Prometheus3.1.2The Rime of the Ancient Mariner3.1.3The Bible3.1.4Mutability & Tintern Abbey3.1.5End of Topic Test - Intertextual References
3.2

Philosophical & Scientific Theories

3.2.1Edmund Burke3.2.2Thomas Paine3.2.3John Locke3.2.4Jean-Jacques Rousseau3.2.5Historical Figures3.2.6End of Topic Test - Philosophy & Science Theories
4

Biographic Context

4.1

Biographic Context

4.1.1Shelley's Parents4.1.2Loss & Maternal Anxiety4.1.3Literary Legend4.1.4End of Topic Test - Biographical Context
5

Chapter Summaries

5.1

Letters

5.1.1Letters 1 & 25.1.2Letters 3 & 45.1.3End of Topic Test - Letters
5.2

Chapters

5.2.1Chapters 1-25.2.2Chapters 3-45.2.3Chapters 5-65.2.4Chapters 7-95.2.5Chapters 10-115.2.6Chapters 12-155.2.7Chapters 16-195.2.8Chapters 20-235.2.9Chapter 24 & Walton’s Last Letters5.2.10End of Topic Test - Chapters 1-65.2.11End of Topic Test - Chapters 7-155.2.12End of Topic Test - Chapters 16-235.2.13End of Topic Test - Chapter 24 & Walton's Letters
6

Key Themes

6.1

Key Themes

6.1.1Curiosity & Knowledge6.1.2Science & Society6.1.3Loss & Companionship6.1.4Connection to Nature6.1.5Injustice
6.2

Key Locations

6.2.1Extreme Landscapes6.2.2Industrialised University Cities6.2.3End of Topic Test - Key Themes & Locations
7

Recap: Main Quotes

7.1

Characters Quotes

7.1.1Walton - Quotations7.1.2Victor Frankenstein - Quotations7.1.3The Monster - Quotations7.1.4The Educational Texts - Quotations7.1.5Elizabeth Lavenza - Quotations7.1.6Justine Moritz - Quotations7.1.7Henry Clerval - Quotations7.1.8Alphonse Frankenstein - Quotations7.1.9The De Lacey Family - Quotations
7.2

Quotes by Chapters

7.2.1Letters 1 & 2 - Quotations7.2.2Letters 3 & 4 - Quotations7.2.3Chapters 1-6 - Quotations7.2.4Chapters 7-13 - Quotations7.2.5Chapters 14-20 - Quotations7.2.6Chapters 21-24 & Waton's Last Letters - Quotations

Practice questions on Chapters 7-9

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Events of Chapter 7Put in order
  2. 2
    Who do we learn has been killed in Chapter 7?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Events of Chapter 7:True / false
  4. 4
    Why does Victor keep quiet about what he knows about the Monster in Chapter 8?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    Which word best describes how Victor feels during the trial?Multiple choice
Answer all questions on Chapters 7-9

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Chapters 5-6

Chapters 10-11