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Injustice

It could be argued that three forms of injustice are presented in the novel: natural injustice, legal injustice and social injustice.

William Godwin

William Godwin

  • Shelley’s father, William Godwin, believed that social institutions were inherently unjust and that injustice creates crime in society.
  • This is why he proposed radical changes to politics and supported the ideals of the French Revolution.
Justine

Justine

  • These Godwinian theories can be seen in the novel through the story of Justine and the miscarriage of justice that ends in her execution.
Religion

Religion

  • The fact that she admits falsely to the murder before her execution, in fear that she will not achieve salvation, could also be seen as a criticism of the oppressive nature of religion.
Other injustice

Other injustice

  • Victor’s actions which lead to so many deaths can be viewed as unjust, as can the suffering of the Monster, who is abandoned by his creator.
Jump to other topics
1

Narrative Structure

2

Character Summaries

3

Intertextuality & Allusions

4

Biographic Context

5

Chapter Summaries

6

Key Themes

7

Recap: Main Quotes

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