- 'William’s death is symbolic.' Do you agree with this statement? If not, why not? If so, what does it symbolize?
- Justine’s death differs from William’s in some very critical ways. Explain.
Use a quotation to support your position in either the first or second question; read the other postings to be sure you do not repeat the quotation used.
Response due on Wednesday, November 11
22 comments:
I Believe William's death symbolizes the potential danger of the creature that Victor created. "Two years had now nearly elapsed since the night on which he first received life and was this his first crime?" (Shelley 70) William does not have control over what he created and now it is roaming around freely. I believe that maybe this is just the beginning of the problems that the creature will bring to Victor, and he will have to do something about it.
Justine's death is very different because she admitted her guilt and so she chose her fate; she knew the consequences of turning herself in. I am not saying that I believe she was guilty, but she chose to say that she was. "I do not fear to die... i leave a sad and bitter world." (Shelley 82)
William's death is symbolic to idea of the loss of innocence. William is a young child and represents innocence. It represents the strength that Frankenstien's monstre holds and brings him into the adult world where he is no longer veiled by innocence.
Justine's death is different than Williams because shetoo was innocent but she willingly acceptated her fate and believed that it would be justified. "I shall see you again in heaven, where we shall be happy." (81)
William’s death symbolizes terror and the loss of purity. He symbolizes terror because it is here that we become aware of the terrible and horrible things Frankenstein is capable of doing. The mere fact that Frankenstein murdered a young, loving and naive boy reveals that he is a terrible monster who should not be dealt with in a light manner. It also symbolizes the loss of purity because William was an innocent kid whose life was abruptly halted in a rapid and violent manner. Justine’s death was different because her life wasn’t unexpectedly taken by an evil monster. She also willingly accepted the consequences for a murder she hadn’t committed, and she decided her destiny when she confessed to the murder (even though she hadn’t done it). “It is decided as you may have expected; all the judges had rather that ten innocent should suffer than that one in guilty should escape. But she has confessed”.(Shelley, 80)
It is true that Williams’s death symbolizes the loss of purity or innocence, we can justify this by the type of person William was and how he was brutally strangled to death. However I believe that Williams death also symbolizes the misery of Victor and the mistake he made in creating this “monster.” I believe this act of violence was to show us something about victor’s actions, for without his creation, this would have never happened. Victor seemed to be well, but when he received that letter, which returned him to his misery; his false sense of wellbeing had come to an instant halt. “I considered the being whom I had cast among mankind and endowed with the will and power to effect purposes of horror, such as the deed which he had now done, nearly in the light of my own vampire, my own spirit let loose from the grave and forced to destroy all that was dear to me.” (Shelly 70) Williams’s death is the return of the protagonist’s misery, for in essence it was he who enabled this deed to be done.
Justine’s death differed from Williams because it is true that she had some control over the outcome of her trial. She confessed a lie, thus condemning herself to an unfair sentence. “I did, but I confessed a lie.” (Shelly 81) However I believe Justine’s death to also symbolize Victors return to misery. How his great aspiration of goal, backfired on him, and caused him more misery that pleasure. “But I, the true murderer, felt the never-dying worm alive in my bosom, which allowed of no hope or consolation.” Victor’s tears were not that of innocence such as Elizabeth’s or Justine’s. Instead he felt true misery and guilt for these losses. “Anguish and despair had penetrated into the core of my heart; I bore a hell within me which nothing could extinguish.”
"That sweet child, whose smiles delighted and warmed my heard, who was so gentle, yet so gay! Victor, he is murdered!" (Shelley 64)This is how the novel's symbol of inocence and happiness, reminding the reader of Victor's earlier inocence, is killed. His frailty and small size are symbols of how Victor's innocence is easily corrupted.
Justine's death is different from William's in that it could have been avoided if Victor had spoken up. However, for love towards the Frankenstein family, she decided to embrace her fate and accpet the crimes she was being charged with. She is like a scapegoat.
William's death symbolizes the loss of innocence in the novel and it wakes victor from his long confusion of the whereabouts of the creature. It symbolizes the loss of innocence because William is but only a child. He is eternally innocent as all children are and he symbolizes the loss of innocence, not his own, but Victor's. "Could he be (I shuddered at the conception) the murderer of my brother? No sooner did that idea cross my imagination, than I became convinced of its truth (Shelley 66)." Victor abruptly descends from that place where he believes his monster will bring no consequences. He is wrong and it takes such a brutal action to make him realize. Justine's death is somewhat different but not entirely. She was killed supposedly for killing William, but we know she took the blame because she was ashamed that she wasn't there to protect young William. She confesses to the murder although it is a lie, and like William she dies being innocent.
In my opinion, William's murder symbolizes the dangers the monster represents. It serves as foreshadowing for events to come. William first becomes aware of the evil in his creation after the monster kills his brother. He says " I had turned loose into the world a depraved wretch whose delight was in carnage and misery". (Shelley 70)
Justine's death, on the other hand, represents the way the monster's actions will affect everyone around him. Her death was not caused directly by the monster, it was sort of a side effect of his actions. Victor says" I was convinced in my own mind that Justine, and indeed every human being, was guiltless of this murder". (Shelley 73) The monster affected Justine's life unjustly.
Only 7 of you have posted on time! Get with it folks! Don't forget to read what others have said! MR
William's death is symbolic because it represents a shift in the story; the monster is no longer running from its creator, it is now running toward him. It also shows Victor that creating life comes at a price, in this case he is paying with the lives of William and Justine. Justine's death differs from William in that she was not killed by the monster (at least directly) like William was. It also differs in that Victor had the opportunity to save Justine, while there was nothing he could do for William, "A thousand times rather would I have confessed myself guilty of the crime ascribed to Justine; but I was absent when it was committed, and such a declaration would have been considered as the ravings of a madman, and would not have exculpated her who suffered through me." (Shelley Ch.8)
I think Williams death shows the true capability of the creature, at first I could picture the creature as scared being unable to understand whats going on all arround it but with time this murder shows how it went from a confused creature to an agresive one, and Victor realizes the threat he let loose. "He was the murdere! I could not doubt it. The mere presence of the idea was an irresistible proof of the fact."(Shelly 70)
Justinies death is different from Williams because first of all she knew why this has happening, it was based on a false accusation but she knew waht would be the cause of her death, William would never understand the nature of his muder, Justine also agrees to die, she realized she needed to do this to at least not die in sin.
"William is dead!" (Shelley 64). WIlliam's death I believe stands for the future danger that the "monster" Frankenstein created poses to society. If the creature was able to kill such an innocent being as William, he will be capable of much more. I think it also creates a shift in the story, for the monster had not only killed Victor's brother but has caused Elizabeth much harm. Elizabeth feels guilty; she says "Oh, God! I have murdered my darling child!" (Shelley 65). Victor feels extremely guilty for this and he has to find a way to stop the creature. The death symbolizes suffering and death for people if Frankenstein does not do something about the creature.
Justine's death is different. Even if she is as innocent as William, she chose to confess. However, this death could have been prevented if Victor had said something, but he did not. He"passed a night of unmingled wretchedness"(Shelley 79) but still could not think that Justine's situation was worse;she was going to be killed even if she was innocent. "Justine was condemned." (Shelley 79) and the only person who could stop it did nothing. Justine's death was different because it was preventable, but she still decided to take it out of love for the family and i think also because she was in some way feeling guilty that William died because she was not there to protect him.
William's death is symbolic in this novel because it represents the significant consequences of Victor's monster. It is here that Victor realizes the terrible creation he has made and how it destroys innocence and purity. By killing William, Frankestein proves that he has no limit between right and wrong and that he does not understand how dangerous and criminal he is becoming.
Justine's death differs from that of William because unlike him, she choses to be jugded guilty and therefore accepts death. William was not given the chance to live or die, but Justine did not fight for her life; instead she confessed an unreal truth in order to go to heaven: "I confessed, that I might obtain absolution; but now that falsehood lies heavier at my heart than all my other sins. The God of heaven forgive me!" (Shelley 81)
MANUEL CALVILLO:
William's death symbolizes the beginning of tragedy and guilt. "... The first hapless victims to my unhallowed arts." (Shelley 84). By saying that they are the first victims because of his creation, Victor admits and acknowledges that William's death, along with Justine's, mark the beginning of what will be a series of tragic events. He also blames himself about this because he created the cause of these two deaths. The only difference between Justine's death and William's is that Justine chose to die to conserve her honor while William had no choice because he was directly murdered by the creature Victor created.
I do believe that Williams death of significance because when this event takes places it appears as if Victor’s life makes a transition to a point of no return, where the innocent blood of his brother will never dissipate from Victor’s psyche and the cruelty of this recollection will never be “sweetened by the perfumes of Arabia.” Victor’s fervent pain can be displayed when he states that “No one [could] conceive the anguish, that [he] suffered during the remainder of the night, which [he] spent, cold and wet in the open air”. (Shelley,70) This demonstrates that his agony was so poignant that it appears that even his physical condition, although unharmed at that moment, is affected by the guilt that now permeates him.
Justine’s death is fairly different to that of William’s mainly because William’s decease is completely unexpected unlike Justine’s death which is court ordered. Another difference from Justine’s death from William is that she chose her faith in order to perish in complete serenity with God. This can be demonstrated when Justine informs Elizabeth that she does not fear death. I particularly like Justine’s last word because it appear to be words of hope and enlightenment, it appeared to a small flicker of light in all this darkness, “Live, and be happy, and make other so” (Shelley, 83)
William’s tragic death apart from deeply exalting the loss of innocence and Victor Frankenstein’s guilt, it represents the fear of the unknown. Victor has been the only one who has had a personal contact with the creature but for a brief span of time. Although he was the creator he knows nothing more or less than the average country men, since as soon as he gave the gift of life, Victor was to shocked to embrace his invention. Not knowing what the creature’s next move is going to be is what is chewing his insides, Although he says that the creature was the cause of this mess he can only speculate, and while he doesn’t find him he’ll never know the creatures intentions, mentality nor will be able to stop a possible third death. This is a wake up call. Williams death also opens a new opinion of the creature, is he looking for Victor? Does he have memory of the former brain holder? We can only guess, but the most probable is hat he as many new borns in nature is trying to return to his progenitor, basic animal instincs.
The differences between William and Justine’s death are many, one of which derives from a class system, Justine was as servant low class, who has become as part of the family thanks to the Frankenstein’s warmth, but when you analyse the situation and switched roles if Justine was the one murdered would her death be avenged , probably not since high rank officials didn’t take care about lower classes. Unlike poor little Andrew who still had his childhood ahead at the time of his death he wasn’t thinking about the pardon of his sins yet. Justine in the other regarded it as the safe way, and declared she guilty “I did confess, but I confessed a lie. I confessed, that im might obtain absolution”(shelley 81) unlike William she embraced death as the only possible route to heaven through the pardon of her sins, moments before her unnecessary death, but it was in vain.
It is true that William's death is symbolic. It simbolizes an innocent's death. William symbolized joy, beauty, and innocence but when he was brutally murdered, his innocence was corrupted. Cleval even mentions how innocent William was to try to console Victor, "Poor William" said he, "Dear lovely child, he now sleeps with his angel mother! Who that had seen him bright and joyous in his young beauty but must weep over his untimely loss! To die so miserably, to feel the murder's grasp! How much more a murderer, that could destroy such radiant innocence!"(Shelly 67). This quote clearly depicts how William's randiant innocence was brutally corrupted by the murderer.
Justine's death differs from Williams in some crutial ways. For example, William died murdered and so innocence corrupted. On ther other hand, Justine's innocence was corrupted by the society. Due to peer presure, Justine was forced to confess her "crime" in order to at least gain absolution. In addition, there could have been a change of fate in Justine's death sentence but William's death was choiceless. Moreover, Justine's innocence was destroyed with falsehood and social corruption.Victor states "When I received their cold answers and heard the harsh, unfeeling reasoning of these men, my purposed avowal diead away on my lips" (Shelly 83). This shows how how Victor feels upon the corruption of society on the final decision for Justine.
contYes, I believe that through William’s death Shelley wishes to demonstrate other important messages within the novel. By dying at the hands of his diabolical creation, Victor has in essence played a huge role in his brother’s death. The demise of his young brother, the pride of the family, symbolizes, among other things, the idea of consequence and retribution. I believe that in a way, by tampering with the natural order and bringing a being into this world completely against the laws of nature, it is fitting that a life be taken away. He essentially brought a child into this world, so one had to be removed. I also think that William’s death was necessary to transmit the idea that you cannot solve problems simply by ignoring them, and that Victor’s foolhardy actions have severe consequences.
Justine’s death is different from Williams in that she is not a direct victim of Frankenstein’s experiment. She is “lawfully” sentenced to death after a trial process, unlike William who was simply murdered in cold blood: “the ballots had been thrown; they were all black (Shelley 79).” She was condemned, despite her innocence, of murdering the young child. This was due to an unfortunate series of events which placed her near the crime, without an alibi, and holding an article formerly on William’s person. Her death also differs from William’s in that Victor has a chance to avoid this casualty. Unlike with his brother, he is now present and can therefore make an effort to sway the judge’s opinion. Sadly, his weak character keeps him from managing anything substantial.
William's death, besides being a foreshadowing of the consequences of Victor's creation, is symbolic of the death of innonence to the hand of ambition. This event in the story shows the consequences of how Victor was so involved in creating the monster that he didn't stop to think the potential harms it could generate. Now that he sees what the creature is capable of doing, killing his dearest and closest people, he feels extreme guilt and fear. "The appearance of the work of my own hands alive at my bedside..."(Shelley 70). What was once an appreciated creation has now become a regretful achievement.
Besides William's death, we see the death of another youth, Justine. This death is also symbolic of the death of innocence but in a different way. With William's death we could see how innocence is abducted without even realizing it, but with Justine we can see how sometimes young people are forced to give up their innocence by the pressures of society. Either way, the innocence of a child is being killed; wether it is by society or by a monster os similar magnitude.
William’s death is definitely symbolic because it marks the beginning of the end. It states properties like “an action creates an equal and opposite reaction” of that though of every new life takes the place of another. The monster has been created and William’s death relinquished. William symbolized and meant joy, gayness (happiness) and innocence. It destroyed the characters of the book and is a weigh upon his loved ones that such innocence could die. For example, when Elizabeth found out of the act, she “fainted, and was restored with extreme difficulty. When she again lived, it was only to weep and sigh.” (Shelley 65). William was a great part of Elizabeth and Victor’s life; they could see happiness In William, happiness that was taken away, stolen, only to leave grief and mourning behind.
Elizabeth‘s death is similar and yet different in various ways. William had done nothing wrong to anybody, he was an innocent child. Elizabeth was also innocent but she saw a purpose in her death, she sacrificed herself to receive salvation. The most relevant difference lies on Victor because he had to do with her death directly rather than indirectly like in William’s place. Victor could have stopped the trial and accusations if he had told the truth about the monster and hw he knew the monster murdered his brother. On the other hand, Victor’s relation with William’s death is indirect because although he created his killer, he did not desired to lose part of his own innocence nor one of his own kin.
The death of William represents the loss of innocence in the situation for Victor. He thought that nothing would happen, he thought that he could deal with the unnatural and not play guilty. And I think that William stand for the loss of happiness and innocence in Victor."That sweet child, whose smiles delighted and warmed my heard, who was so gentle, yet so gay! Victor, he is murdered!" (Shelley 64) I think here Victor is emphasized to stem the fact that he is the murderer, indirectly.
Justine's death is different from William's, because even though it represents that playing with the unnatural has consequences, it's a wake up call for Victor he cannot rely on anyone to solve the mess that he made.
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