6.2.3

Justice

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Key Quotations on the Theme of Justice

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

Guilty

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

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

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.

1

Plot Summaries

1.1

Volume 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

1.2

Volume II

1.2.1Chapters 1-3 1.2.2Chapters 4-6 1.2.3Chapters 7-9 1.2.4End of Topic Test - Volume II

1.3

Volume 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

2

Characters

2.1

Victor Frankenstein

2.1.1Role 2.1.2Quotations 2.1.3End of Topic Test - Victor Frankenstein

2.2

The Monster

2.2.1Role 2.2.2Quotations 2.2.3End of Topic Test - The Monster 2.2.4Grade 9 - The Monster Question & Extract

2.3

Other 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

3

Key Themes

3.1

Ambition & Pursuit of Knowledge

3.1.1Presentation 3.1.2Key Quotations

3.2

Prejudice

3.2.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.3

Justice

3.3.1Presentation & Key Quotations 3.3.2End of Topic Test - Ambition, Prejudice & Justice

3.4

Companionship & Family

3.4.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.5

Revenge

3.5.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.6

Monstrosity

3.6.1Presentation 3.6.2Key Quotations

3.7

Gender

3.7.1Presentation 3.7.2Key Quotations 3.7.3Key Themes - Companionship, Revenge & More

4

Authorial Method

4.1

Genre & Intertextuality

4.1.1Genre 4.1.2Intertextuality 4.1.3End of Topic Test - Genre & Intertextuality

4.2

Form & Structure

4.2.1Form 4.2.2Structure

4.3

Settings & Symbolism

4.3.1Settings 4.3.2Symbolism

4.4

Imagery & Doubling

4.4.1Imagery 4.4.2Doubling 4.4.3End of Topic Test - Structure, Settings & More

5

Context

5.1

Context

5.1.1Mary Shelley 5.1.2Time of Writing 5.1.3End of Topic Test - Context

6

Recap: Main Quotes

6.1

Characters Quotes

6.1.1Victor Frankenstein 6.1.2Quotations 6.1.3Robert Walton 6.1.4Elizabeth Lavenza 6.1.5Alphonse Frankenstein 6.1.6Henry Clerval 6.1.7Justine Moritz 6.1.8The De Laceys

6.2

Text Structure - Quotes

6.2.1Ambition & Pursuit of Knowledge 6.2.2Prejudice 6.2.3Justice 6.2.4Companionship & Family 6.2.5Revenge 6.2.6Monstrosity 6.2.7Gender

Jump to other topics

1

Plot Summaries

1.1

Volume 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

1.2

Volume II

1.2.1Chapters 1-3 1.2.2Chapters 4-6 1.2.3Chapters 7-9 1.2.4End of Topic Test - Volume II

1.3

Volume 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

2

Characters

2.1

Victor Frankenstein

2.1.1Role 2.1.2Quotations 2.1.3End of Topic Test - Victor Frankenstein

2.2

The Monster

2.2.1Role 2.2.2Quotations 2.2.3End of Topic Test - The Monster 2.2.4Grade 9 - The Monster Question & Extract

2.3

Other 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

3

Key Themes

3.1

Ambition & Pursuit of Knowledge

3.1.1Presentation 3.1.2Key Quotations

3.2

Prejudice

3.2.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.3

Justice

3.3.1Presentation & Key Quotations 3.3.2End of Topic Test - Ambition, Prejudice & Justice

3.4

Companionship & Family

3.4.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.5

Revenge

3.5.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.6

Monstrosity

3.6.1Presentation 3.6.2Key Quotations

3.7

Gender

3.7.1Presentation 3.7.2Key Quotations 3.7.3Key Themes - Companionship, Revenge & More

4

Authorial Method

4.1

Genre & Intertextuality

4.1.1Genre 4.1.2Intertextuality 4.1.3End of Topic Test - Genre & Intertextuality

4.2

Form & Structure

4.2.1Form 4.2.2Structure

4.3

Settings & Symbolism

4.3.1Settings 4.3.2Symbolism

4.4

Imagery & Doubling

4.4.1Imagery 4.4.2Doubling 4.4.3End of Topic Test - Structure, Settings & More

5

Context

5.1

Context

5.1.1Mary Shelley 5.1.2Time of Writing 5.1.3End of Topic Test - Context

6

Recap: Main Quotes

6.1

Characters Quotes

6.1.1Victor Frankenstein 6.1.2Quotations 6.1.3Robert Walton 6.1.4Elizabeth Lavenza 6.1.5Alphonse Frankenstein 6.1.6Henry Clerval 6.1.7Justine Moritz 6.1.8The De Laceys

6.2

Text Structure - Quotes

6.2.1Ambition & Pursuit of Knowledge 6.2.2Prejudice 6.2.3Justice 6.2.4Companionship & Family 6.2.5Revenge 6.2.6Monstrosity 6.2.7Gender

Practice questions on Justice

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1
What is Victor's excuse for not speaking up for Justine?Multiple choice
2
At what point in the book does Victor begin to feel 'the duties of a creator' towards the Monster?Multiple choice

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Prejudice

Companionship & Family