Chapter+8


 * Chapter 8 **

// Burn the Witch! //

"John Proctor: I say - I say - God is dead!" (Miller, Act 3, Scene 3, pg. 111)

Victoria Barker- Period 1 Marcel Cabato- Period 1 Ethan Ramsammy- Period 1
 * Contributors:**

Justine is brought to her trial for William's murder and they find her guilty. Victor and Elizabeth visit her in her cell before she dies and learn of her innocence.

Allusions

//Victor Lied, Justine Died//

Chapter 8 bears a similarity to the events of The Crucible wherein the residents of Salem begin to confess guilt for crimes that they did not commit. Despite the fact that this book was written first, they both call to mind the witch trials of the early modern period, where social and religious pressure caused innocent people to assume crimes that they could never have committed. (Love the connection, but an allusion is a reference to something already written...)
 * The Crucible **

As a punishment for Prometheus' transgression, Zeus unleashed Pandora and her box of evils upon Prometheus' beloved creatures. In chapter 8, the creature unleashes numerous evils like alienation, guilt, grief, and injustice into Victor's previously utopian Geneva with the deaths of William and Justine.
 * Pandora's Box **

Motifs/Symbols


 * **Justine as a Christ figure** – Justine, herself, is a Christ like figure in this chapter. She dies for the sins of Victor (creating the monster) as Jesus died for the sins of man. In addition, Shelley presents Justine as being calm and serene in a situation that was chaotic which makes her appear angelic.


 * “**//She was dressed in mourning, and her countenance, always engaging, was rendered, by the solemnity of her feelings, exquisitely beautiful.//” (Shelley 68)


 * **Night** – The night is usually a motif of crime and mischievous nature in literature. However, in Chapter 8 of //Frankenstein// the night symbolizes innocence for Justine as she is accused of committing murder during the night, when in reality she was out looking frantically for William.

“//She had been out the whole of the night on which the murder had been committed and towards morning had been perceived by a market-woman not far from the spot where the body of the murdered child had been afterwards found.”// (Shelley 69)

Themes


 * Guilty Conscience: Frankenstein consistently has a guilty conscience throughout the chapter due to the creation of the monster. This guilt is further catalyzed through the deaths of William and most recently Justine. Guilt leads Victor to become progressively more insane and Shelley portrays this insanity through Victor’s constant internalizations about being the cause of all the deaths of innocent people.

“//From the tortures of my own heart, I turned to contemplate the deep and voiceless grief of my Elizabeth. This also was my doing! And my father’s woe, and the desolation of that late so smiling home – all was the work of my thrice-accursed hands!”// (Shelley 75)


 * Frankenstein’s actions bring harm to innocent people: Frankenstein constantly harms innocent people (particularly those he cares about) as a result of the creation of the monster. Shelley displays this theme through the deaths of innocent people such as William and Justine.Therefore, the monster is Frankenstein’s unintentional weapon of destruction.

“//Thus spoke my prophetic soul, as, torn by remorse, horror and despair, I behold those I loved spend vain sorrow upon the graves of William and Justine, the first hapless victims to my unhallowed arts//.” (Shelley 76)

Character Development

His guilt is heavily emphasized in this chapter, but so is his lack of responsibility. He speaks to her out of guilt and pity, but refuses to acknowledge his creature's actions publicly even when faced with the immediate death of his alleged friend. Near the end of the chapter, his single mindedness reasserts itself, making him unable to think of anything but the harm he has caused. These two deaths illustrate how Frankenstein's characteristic method of running away from his problems does not solve anything and, in fact, makes his situation worse.
 * Victor Frankenstein **

She is able to demonstrate her mercy and trust, but those don't really count as developments as this editor honestly believes that she is the flattest character ever.
 * Elizabeth Frankenstein **

She moves towards a very pathetic character, especially when she is pressured by her confessor into accepting a punishment that she doesn't deserve. During the conversation in her cell, she shows admirable stoicism with regards to her impending death.
 * Justine **

No direct characterization, but the audience would definitely perceive one murder and one attempted murder differently from two murders caused directly and indirectly by the monster
 * Frankenstein's creature **

Significant Quotes and explanations

"God knows how entirely I am innocent. But I do not pretend that my protestations should acquit me; I rest my innocence on a plain and simple explanation of the facts which have been adduced against me, and I hope the character I have always borne will incline my judges to a favourable [sic] interpretation where any circumstance appears doubtful or suspicious." (Shelley 69) This statement displays an obvious difference in Justine and Victor. Justine accepts what life has thrown at her and hopes that the jury and judge will base their decision off of the person she is and her character. Victor on the other hand does not accept what life has given him. He constantly strives to achieve more and tries to fix the situations rather than just accepting his position and moving forward with his life. This compulsiveness is a cause of his eventual downfall.

"The tortures of the accused did not equal mine; she was sustained by innocence, but the fangs of remorse tore my bosom, and would not forgo their hold." (Shelley 72) This statement describes the remorse that Victor felt knowing that Justine was being accused of a crime she did not commit. This statement is pivotal in the book because it marks a change in Victor- no longer is he focused on himself and his feelings yet he now feels for others much more than he ever did before.

"I truly thank him. 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! It removes more than half my misfortune, and I feel as if I could die in peace now that my innocence is acknowledged by you, dear lady, and your cousin." (Shelley 74) This statement by Justine to Elizabeth shows the emotions of Justine before her death. She is thankful for the acceptance and understanding of Elizabeth and Victor. This quote depicts Justine's role as a Christ-figure because here she is taking the punishment for a crime she did not commit and she is not objecting, which cost her her life.

"Thus spoke my prophetic soul, as torn, by remorse, horror, and despair, I beheld those I loved spend vain sorrow upon the graves of William and Justine, the first hapless victims to my unhallowed arts." (Shelley 76) This quote by Victor, shows the remorse he feels. He realizes that the deaths of William and Justine are a result of his creation and he is truly sorry. These were two of his closest acquaintances and he is responsible for there deaths. After this Victor tries to remedy the situation to some degree by finding his creature but as the story progresses more of Victor's family dies, a result of his actions. Victor was so driven to create a creature that he neglected his family and eventually his creation took away his family.

Works Cited??? Otherwise, excellent chapter analysis. Looks beautiful.
 * [[image:justine.jpg align="center"]] ||
 * Shelley, Mary. "Chapter 8." //Frankenstein//. New York: Bantam, 1981. 68-76. Print. ||