Presentation & Key Quotations

Test yourself

Presentation of the Theme of Justice

Shelley presents a world – and a justice system – that is riddled with unfairness.

Justine

Justine is condemned to death despite her innocence, and the circumstantial nature of the evidence against her.
Victor views this as a 'wretched mockery of justice'.

Victor

Victor experiences the limitations of the justice system when he is wrongly accused of Clerval’s murder.
Victor also seems to recognise the unfairness of denying the Monster a mate, and so perhaps consents to create one out of a commitment to justice.

The Monster

The Monster deeply feels the injustice of the situation he faces, and plays upon this when he reminds Victor of the duties of a creator towards their creation.

Key Quotations on the Theme of Justice

Shelley presents a world – and a justice system – that is riddled with unfairness.

Guilty

'A thousand times rather would I have confessed myself guilty of the crime ascribed to Justine; but I was absent when it was committed, and such a declaration would have been considered as the ravings of a madman, and would not have exculpated her who suffered through me' (Chapter 8).
- Although Victor is certain of Justine's innocence, he uses the flaws in the justice system as an excuse not to speak up about his suspicions.
- Victor's hyperbolic language here undermines his sentiment.

A flawed legal system

'All judges had rather that ten innocent should suffer, than that one guilty should escape.' (Chapter 8).
- Victor criticises a flawed legal system which seems willing to punish an innocent person in order for it to seem as if justice is being served.

Creator and creation

'For the first time, also, I felt what the duties of a creator towards his creature were, and that I ought to render him happy before I complained of his wickedness.' (Volume Two: Chapter 2).
- The Monster seems to have been successful in getting Victor to understand the relationship between the creator and their creation.
- Victor seems to acknowledge that there are certain "duties" which he should fulfil and that by making a companion for the Monster he might be able to achieve a sense of justice.

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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