Justine Moritz

Summary of Justine Moritz's Character

Justine Moritz is the neglected daughter of a widow. Caroline Frankenstein takes her in as a servant and educates her, and Justine becomes close to Elizabeth. Justine is accused of the murder of William and is executed, despite being innocent.

The murder of William

After the murder of William, Justine is found with the portrait of Caroline that William had previously been seen with, and is accused of the crime.
She falsely confesses on the advice of her confessor, and is executed for the murder, despite being innocent.

Amiable and well-liked

Shelley’s descriptions of Justine focus on how amiable and well-liked she is, and this serves to heighten the sense of injustice felt when Justine is executed for the murder of William.
The manner in which Justine is willing to confess to a crime of which she is innocent also encourages us to be critical of Victor’s failure to speak up and potentially save her life.

Justine Moritz - Key Quotations

Grateful

'Justine was the most grateful little creature in the world.' (Chapter 6).
- Having been taken in by the Frankenstein family and provided with an education, Justine is incredibly thankful and appreciative.
- This perhaps serves to further highlight the effect of Victors' abandonment of the Monster.

Positive influence

'Justine, you may remember, was a great favourite of yours; and I recollect you once remarked that if you were in an ill humour, one glance from Justine could dissipate it' (Chapter 6).
- Justine is presented as having a positive influence on the mood of others.
- In this explanation of her ability to dispel Victor's bad humour, Shelley presents Justine as an ideal nineteenth-century woman, similar to the Angel in the House.

Her final words

'In these last moments I feel the sincerest gratitude towards those who think of me with kindness. How sweet is the affection of others to such a wretch as I am!' (Chapter 8).
- Even when she is about to be executed for a crime she didn't commit, Justine uses her final words to thank others for their kindness towards her.
- The sweet, saintly nature of Justine's character makes her fate seem even sadder. This encourages the reader to deepen their criticism of Victor's refusal to speak up.

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

Jump to other topics