Peter Gao, David Glanzman, Rachel Pallmeyer, Violet Brown, Jack Huemmler
Mrs. Revers
English 12H
15 March 2013
Sentence Outline
ARGUMENT: The prosecution will seek a conviction of Frankenstein’s creature for one count
of first-degree murder in the case of Elizabeth Lavenza, and two counts of third-degree murder in
the cases of Henry Clerval and William Frankenstein. Frankenstein’s creature killed these three
victims maliciously, motivated by his hate for Victor Frankenstein and his wish to hurt everyone
associated with him.
1. The creature is guilty of third-degree murder in the case of William Frankenstein.
a. According to the evidence, as well as the creature’s own comments, the creature
intentionally attacked William and killed him. The creature admitted to the crime.
i. The creature encountered William outside Geneva.
ii. “I grasped his throat to silence him, and in a moment he lay dead at my
feet” (122).
b. The creature attacked William maliciously. After realizing that William was
connected to Victor Frankenstein, the creature grew enraged and decided to kill
William. Victor Frankenstein had refused to acquiesce to the creature’s demand to
create a second creature. Therefore, the creature plotted his revenge against
Frankenstein, killing William in a fit of malice.
i. “’’Frankenstein! You belong then to my enemy—to him towards whom I
have sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim’’” (122).
2. The creature is guilty of third-degree murder in the case of Henry Clerval.
a. Henry Clerval’s corpse bore the same unique marks as the body of William
Frankenstein, indicating that the creature was responsible for Clerval’s death.
i. Frankenstein’s creature had been proven to be in the same area as
Frankenstein and Clerval, as he had communicated with Frankenstein
close to the time of the murder.
ii. “He had apparently been strangled; for there was no sign of any violence,
except the black mark of fingers around his neck” (149).
b. The creature killed Henry Clerval with malice, in his attempt to get revenge
against Frankenstein.
i. Frankenstein and Henry were best friends, and the creature sought to cause
Frankenstein significant emotional stress.
ii. Frankenstein’s creature had threatened to hurt everyone close to
Frankenstein.
iii. “As I looked on him, his countenance expressed the utmost extent of
malice and treachery” (142).
iv. Frankenstein was on his way to join Clerval at the time of Henry’s death.
v. “Man! You may hate; but beware! Your hours will pass in dread and
misery” (143).
3. The creature is guilty of first-degree murder in the case of Elizabeth Lavenza.
a. The body of Elizabeth Lavenza displayed the same unique marks as did the
bodies of William Frankenstein and Henry Clerval, indicating the creature was
responsible for Elizabeth’s death.
i. Victor Frankenstein saw the creature at the scene of the crime, running
away, and gesturing towards Elizabeth’s body.
1. “I saw at the open window a figure the most hideous and abhorred.
A grin was on the face of the monster; he seemed to jeer as with
his fiendish finger he pointed towards the corpse of my wife”
(166).
ii. “The murderous mark of the fiend’s grasp was on her neck, and the breath
had ceased to issue from her lips” (166).
b. The creature acted with the specific intent to kill Elizabeth Lavenza, in order to
punish Victor Frankenstein. Elizabeth and Victor had just been married, and the
creature wished to hurt those individuals closest to Frankenstein. In a
conversation between Frankenstein and the creature, the creature threatened to
attack Victor and Elizabeth on their wedding night. Thus, it can be shown that the
creature plotted in advance to murder Elizabeth.
i. “Remember, I shall be with you on your wedding night” (143).
c. The creature killed Elizabeth Lavenza in an act of malice: he sought to hurt Victor
Frankenstein and everyone close to him.
i. “You believe yourself miserable, but I can make you so wretched that the
light of day will be hateful to you” (143).