McIvor, Brown, Strum, Tarrant
Danae McIvor, Robbie Brown, Andrew Strum, Chance Tarrant
Mrs. Revers
English 12
20 October 2011
Prosecution of the Creature
The Creature is guilty of First-degree murder for Henry Clerval and Elizabeth Lavenza; Second-degree murder for William Frankenstein, and Involuntary Manslaughter of Justine Moritz, Mr. Alphonse Frankenstein, and Dr. Victor Frankenstein.
1. The wretch is guilty of first-degree murder of Henry Clerval.
a. The Creature strangled Henry Clerval to death
i. “He had apparently been strangled; for there was no sign of any violence, except the black mark of fingers on his neck” (149)
b. The Creature wants to kill and or harm anyone close to Dr. Victor Frankenstein
i. "Shall each man," cried he, "find a wife for his bosom, and each beast have his mate, and I be alone? I had feelings of affection, and they were requited by detestation and scorn. Man! You may hate; but beware! Your hours will pass in dread and misery, and soon the bolt will fall which must ravish from you your happiness for ever. Are you to be happy while I grovel in the intensity of my wretchedness? You can blast my other passions; but revenge remains--revenge, henceforth dearer than light or food! I may die; but first you, my tyrant and tormentor, shall curse the sun that gazes on your misery. Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful. I will watch with the wiliness of a snake, that I may sting with its venom. Man, you shall repent of the injuries you inflict." (143)
1. Why does the Creature say this? What prompted him to want revenge? The Creature says this because Frankenstein destroyed the female creature that he was creating. Frankenstein thought rationally about his actions and knew that if he gave the creature a mate then it would end with an offspring.
2. Why does the Creature choose Henry Clerval as a victim?
a. The creature choose Henry as a victim because he was the best friend of Victor Frankenstein
ii. “May not even this be a feint that will increase your triumph by affording a wider scope for your revenge?” (127)
1. The Creature blackmails Dr. Victor Frankenstien to create it a mate and if not it will seek revenge on him.
2. The wretch is guilty of First-degree murder of Elizabeth Lavenza
a. The Creature strangled Elizabeth and then throws her body on the bed
i. “She was there, lifeless and inanimate, thrown across the bed, her head hanging down, and her pale and distorted features half covered by her hair… with a sensation of horror not to be described, I saw the face of the monster; he seemed to jeer as with his fiendish finger he pointed towards the corpse of my wife.” (166)
b. The Creature’s promise of vengeance is fulfilled when he kills Victor Frankenstein’s wife on her wedding night?
i. “I shall be with you on your wedding-night.” (143)
1. Why does he want to kill Liz? The creature chooses Elizabeth as his next victim to take revenge on Victor Frankenstein because Frankenstein thought rationally about his actions against the creature because he knew that it would cause trouble for the public.
2. What is the impact of her death on Victor Frankenstein? The effect the creature had on Frankenstein when it killed Elizabeth provoked a response that any other human being would have was to avenge his love.
3. The wretch is guilty of Second-degree murder of William Frankenstein
a. The Creature was first going to abduct the child to keep William as a friend
i. Found out William was the family of Dr. Victor Frankenstein so it killed him
1. “Boy, you will never see your father again; you must come with me… I grasped his throat to silence him, and in a moment he lay dead at my feet.” (122)
4. The wretch is guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter of Justine Moritz, Mr. Alphonse Frankenstein, and Dr. Victor Frankenstein
a. The crimes of the Creature led each of the three characters to die.
b. Justine – She toke the blame for the death of William in the town of Geneva, and got sentenced to death because the Creature placed William’s locket on her
i. “The crime had its source in her: be hers the punishment... I bent over her, and placed the portrait securely in one of the folds of her dress.” (122 - 123)
c. Mr. Frankenstein – Mr. Frankenstein could not take the pain that the Creature cause him by killing his friends and family and his body got weaken by the pain
i. “He could not live under the horrors that were accumulated around him… in a few days he died in my arms.” (168)
d. Dr. Frankenstein – Because of his journey to find the Creature in which he created, he died from getting sick from the harsh conditions in which the Creature had traveled.
i. “His voice became fainter as he spoke; and at length, exhausted by his effort, he sunk into silence. About a half an hour afterwards he attempted again to speak, but was unable; he pressed my hand feebly, and his eyes closed for ever, while the irradiation of a gentle smile passed away his lips.” (182)
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