Chapters 7-8

Chapter 7, Volume I

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

Alphonse's letter contains the news that Victor's youngest brother, William, has been murdered whilst out on a walk.
Victor leaves Ingolstadt to return to Geneva to console his family, particularly Elizabeth, who is grieving.

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

When Victor returns home, he finds that Justine has been accused of William's murder.
- A portrait of Caroline, last seen in William's possession, had been found in Justine's pocket.
Victor is convinced that Justine is innocent but keeps quiet as he fears he will look insane.

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.

Chapter 8, Volume I

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

Justine's trial

Victor continues to keep quiet about what he knows because he fears that no one would believe his concerns about the Monster.
Justine becomes increasingly distressed during her trial.
- Elizabeth attests to Justine's good character, which upsets Victor more. Still, he does not speak up.
In the morning, Justine is condemned to death and is revealed to have confessed to the crime.

Aftermath

Justine tells Elizabeth that she 'confessed a lie' as she believed this might bring her salvation in the afterlife.
Justine is executed. She is hanged on the scaffold 'as a murderess'.
Victor continues to lament the 'tortures' he experiences. He feels responsible for the deaths of two family members and worries that there will be more to come.

Victor's tragedy

Shelley continues to present Victor's tragedy as self-inflicted, making his suffering seem inevitable.

1Plot Summaries

1.1Volume I

1.1.1Letters I-IV

1.1.2Chapters 1-3

1.1.3Chapters 4-6

1.1.4Chapters 7-8

1.1.5End of Topic Test - Volume I

1.2Volume II

1.2.1Chapters 1-3

1.2.2Chapters 4-6

1.2.3Chapters 7-9

1.2.4End of Topic Test - Volume II

1.3Volume III

1.3.1Chapters 1-3

1.3.2Chapters 4-6

1.3.3Chapter 7 & Walton in Continuation

1.3.4End of Topic Test - Volume III

2Characters

2.1Victor Frankenstein

2.1.1Role

2.1.2Quotations

2.1.3End of Topic Test - Victor Frankenstein

2.2The Monster

2.2.1Role

2.2.2Quotations

2.2.3End of Topic Test - The Monster

2.2.4Grade 9 - The Monster Question & Extract

2.3Other Characters

2.3.1Robert Walton

2.3.2Elizabeth Lavenza

2.3.3Alphonse Frankenstein

2.3.4Henry Clerval

2.3.5Justine Moritz

2.3.6The De Laceys

2.3.7End of Topic Test - Walton, Elizabeth & Alphonse

2.3.8End of Topic Test - Henry, Justine & the De Laceys

3Key Themes

3.1Ambition & Pursuit of Knowledge

3.1.1Presentation

3.1.2Key Quotations

3.2Prejudice

3.2.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.3Justice

3.3.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.3.2End of Topic Test - Ambition, Prejudice & Justice

3.4Companionship & Family

3.4.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.5Revenge

3.5.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.6Monstrosity

3.6.1Presentation

3.6.2Key Quotations

3.7Gender

3.7.1Presentation

3.7.2Key Quotations

3.7.3Key Themes - Companionship, Revenge & More

4Authorial Method

4.1Genre & Intertextuality

4.1.1Genre

4.1.2Intertextuality

4.1.3End of Topic Test - Genre & Intertextuality

4.2Form & Structure

4.2.1Form

4.2.2Structure

4.3Settings & Symbolism

4.3.1Settings

4.3.2Symbolism

4.4Imagery & Doubling

4.4.1Imagery

4.4.2Doubling

4.4.3End of Topic Test - Structure, Settings & More

5Context

5.1Context

5.1.1Mary Shelley

5.1.2Time of Writing

5.1.3End of Topic Test - Context

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