John Ferruzzi, Dan Haddaway
Mrs. Revers
English H-B1
20 March 2013
Frankenstein Trial Outline
Argument: Frankenstein’s creature is guilty of the first degree murders for the death of
Henry Clerval and Elizabeth Lavenza, the third degree murder for the death of William
Frankenstein and involuntary manslaughter for the death of Justine Moritz
1. Frankenstein’s creature is guilty of the first degree murder for the death of Elizabeth
Lavenza.
a. Victor Frankenstein eliminated the creatures mate out of fear that they would
multiply, creating “a race of devils upon the earth” (141).
i. Frankenstein promised his creature that he would create him another
creature.
b. The creature warned Victor that he was going to kill Elizabeth on their wedding
night
i. “It is well. I go; but remember, I shall be with you on your wedding-night”
(143).
c. The creature kills Elizabeth Lavenza on her wedding night
i. “Suddenly I heard a shrill and dreadful scream. It came from the room into
which Elizabeth has retired” (166).
ii. “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” (166).
d. Evidence shows that the creature planned to kill Elizabeth Lavenza as retribution
for Victor Frankenstein destroying his mate.
i. The creature knew that killing Victor’s loved one would emotionally and
physically tear him apart and built anger inside of him.
2. Frankenstein’s creature is guilty of the first degree murder for the death of Henry Clerval
a. Henry is dead
i. “I entered the room where the corpse lay—I saw the lifeless form of
Henry Clerval stretched before me” (150).
b. The murder was planned
i. The creature murdered Henry Clerval with malice to get revenge against
Victor after eliminating his mate.
ii. The creature went after Henry because of the connection that he had with
Victor Frankenstein.
1. He wanted to kill anyone who was close with Frankenstein in order
to get revenge on him for killing his mate.
2. The creature knew that Henry was Victor’s best friend, so he went
after him first.
3. “But you, Clerval, my friend, my benefactor-“ (150)
iii. Henry had black fingerprints on his neck (not accidental)
3. The creature is guilty of murder in the third degree, for the death of William
Frankenstein.
a. The creature murdered William.
i. The creature originally approached William with neutral intentions, but
after
discovering that he was part of the Frankenstein family, he acted in
rage and killed William.
ii. “Frankenstein! You belong then to my enemy to him towards who I have
sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim”(122)
b. The creature killed William out of anger, because he was furious with Victor
Frankenstein.
i. The creature was angry at Victor Frankenstein and everyone, because he
felt that he was rejected by his own creator and society.
ii. Previously, the creature tries to make friends with a French family, but
before he is able show his own personality, they see his hideous exterior
and attack him. Then, while leaving and heading to Geneva he finds a girl
drowning and rescues her, but her father assumes he was attacking, and
shoots him. Finally, he finds William and after learning he is part of the
Frankenstein family, he kills him.
c. The creature killed William with the intention to do evil.
i. After being rejected by the French family, the creature vowed to revenge
himself against victor Frankenstein.
ii. “No: from that moment I declared everlasting war against the species, and,
more than all, against him who formed me” (117).
4. The creature is guilty of involuntary man slaughter.
a. Justine Mortez is dead.
i. Justine was sentences to death for the murder of William Frankenstein,
after admitting to being guilty
b. Justine was sentence to death for a crime she did not commit. The creature killed
William not Justine.
i. The creature killed William out of rage.
c. The creature planted evidence on Justine.
i. The creature planted a locket that he took from William's body, by placing
it into Justine clothes while she was a sleep in a barn. Then, Justine is
blamed for the death of William and out of fright she admits
to
being the culprit. Finally, Justine is sentence to death as a result of the
creature’s actions.
ii. “I had learned now to work mischief. I bent over, and placed the portrait
securely in one of the folds of her dress. She moved again, and I
fled”(122-123).