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Who Killed William in Frankenstein?

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Frankenstein’s monster kills William, his creator’s younger brother, by pressing his throat so that he is not able to breathe. However, the creature is not the only one to be blamed. Victor Frankenstein’s irresponsible actions lead to tragedy in the first place. It is undoubtedly unwise to accuse the monster of the murder and ignore his master’s disruptive behavior.

Detailed answer:

William, who is just a six-year-old boy, is a younger brother of Victor Frankenstein. For sure, he has done nothing wrong to be killed. However, the world is not a place where justice prospers, and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein proves it. Frankenstein’s monster murders the boy by his own hands. Here the question of why the creature kills William arises. The reason for it is that his brother is the monster’s irresponsible creator. Moreover, the boy judges appearances like most human beings. Nevertheless, it does not mean that the murderer is the one to be blamed.

Here is why: Victor, who created the monster, leaves him alone. It leads to adverse outcomes, such as the deaths of many characters and much suffering. Living creatures seek love, and they become evil if they do not receive it. Victor does not consider it, as he is selfish and spiritually blind despite his pleasant upbringing. It is rational to state that he is at fault for the murder of William. Without any doubt, if the man took responsibility for his creation, everything would be more positive.

Neither Victor nor the monster is blamed and executed for William’s murder. Unfortunately, Justine is convicted of the boy’s death. During Justine’s trial, it becomes evident that injustice prospers in the world. The woman is not the person who can commit a crime, and others understand it. Anyway, she is considered responsible for William’s death by people in authority. What is more, Victor does not reveal that he knows who has killed his brother and lets Justine suffer on her own. Even though he feels guilty over the woman’s death, he does not prevent it.

Besides, if you ask yourself whether the monster is guilty or not, remember he pressed William’s throat so that he could not breathe. For sure, most circumstances may justify his behavior. However, the monster kills the young boy by his own hands and deserves to be blamed. He says, “I too can create desolation; my enemy is not invulnerable; this death will carry despair to him, and a thousand other miseries shall torment and destroy him.” The creature takes revenge on his creator for leaving him alone.

On the other hand, Victor’s actions lead to numerous deaths and much suffering. He creates the monster, who kills his brother and other close ones; he refuses to take care of it and leaves. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is not the story of one monster but the story of two. Without any doubt, it is rational to claim that both Victor and his creature killed the six-year-old boy. Further, if it is essential to pick the one to be accused of the murder, it should be Victor, a person who does not take responsibility for his actions.

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IvyPanda. 2022. "Who Killed William in Frankenstein?" September 6, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/q/who-killed-william-in-frankenstein/.

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