Loss of Innocence - Frakenstein

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Justine, Henry Clerval, and the beloved Elizabeth.

Mary Shelley uses the depletion of innocence of the two major characters, Victor and the creature, to illustrate how humans contribute to the downfall of others. Ultimately, the chain of destruction begins with Victor. His lack of action and care induced the monster’s fate of becoming evil. The monster’s actions inturn led to the death of William. It doesn’t take long for Victor to see a shadow of the creature for him to realize, “Nothing in human shape could have destroyed that fair child. He was the murderer” (Shelley 50). With the murder of William, both Frankenstein and his creature lost another strand of innocence. The creature lost a strand because he was the one who actually physically committed the murder; however, Frankenstein can be called the “true murderer” because his actions created the monster’s need for revenge. Also, instead of confessing the truth Frankenstein allows poor Justine to take the fall. As Justine is being charged of murder, Elizabeth loses her innocence because her trust in Justine has been betrayed. Elizabeth believed that Justine was innocent, but when the judges claim she is guilty and Justine confesses, Elizabeth becomes very distressed, "How shall I ever again believe in human goodness? Justine, whom I loved and esteemed as my sister, how could she put on those smiles of innocence only to betray?"(58). Elizabeth’s perpetual faith in the purity of humans was corrupted after seeing Justine confess to the murder of William. Elizabeth exemplifies the belief that all humans are pure, good, and happy. However, before Justine dies she admits that she, “did confess; but I confessed a lie,” (Shelley 58). By confessing to a lie, Justine loss her innocence. She believed that by confession she, “might obtain absolution” (Shelley 58). Once she died, her assigned guilt fell into the lap of Victor. Victor was now the “true murderer” of two people, William and Justine. Due to his destroyed innocence, his creature killed William, Justine, Clerval, and Elizabeth. All of which could have been avoided if Victor didn’t play around with science and act as a God.

All humans shelter a certain amount of innocence throughout their life, what happens to that innocence all depends on the situations, people, and actions one decides to endeavor upon. Mary Shelley uses “Frankenstein” as a platform to discuss the theme of a loss of innocence that is hindered and destroyed by life. Major characters like Victor and the creature emphasize how one’s lack of understanding and thirst for knowledge can ultimately lead to evil and downfall. That downfall which can eventually lead to some form of destruction in the lives of others, whether it be death or even some form of imprisonment. By unraveling “Frankenstein” in this almost cause and effect way, Shelley fulfills her objective of illustration a theme of loss of innocence.