Frankenstein And Justice: Discussion Questions

1) Justine:  outline the key events and factors that lead to the miscarriage of justice in the trial against Justine.

What would Mary Shelley's father, William Godwin, have to say about the treatment of Justine?

Contrast how Tartuffe's guilt is determined with how Justine's guilt is determined; what is the major difference?

2) Delaceys: outline the events and factors that lead to injustices against the Delacey's.

In contrast to everyone else, old man Delacey treats the Creature well.  Why?  How is this relevant to the major theme of this novel? 

3) Combine them:  taken together, what does Shelley imply about the root causes of injustice?

4) What does she imply should be done to remedy these?  What would her father say should be done to the Creature?

5) The Creature’s Apology:  how do these (the causes and solutions to injustice) relate to the Creature’s plea to Victor in terms of how *he* has been unjustly judged/treated?

6) How do these injustices relate to the root cause of his, the Creature’s, evil?

7) In Summary: What are the explicit (those stated in the text) and implicit (unstated but implied) remedies to the forms of injustice outlined above?

Also: From Rousseau's Confessions, how and why is Rousseau treated unjustly, first by his uncle Bernard  and then by his master, when he is an apprentice, and how do these events relate to the Creature's Apology?