20-minute plan
- 1. Re-read the sections of Frankenstein covering Justine’s accusation and trial
- 2. Write 2 bullet points linking her fate to Victor’s inaction
- 3. Draft one discussion question that connects her arc to modern issues of bias
Keyword Guide · study-guide-general
Who Is Justine Frankenstein? | Study Guide for Essays, Quizzes, and Discussion
Justine is a minor but pivotal character in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Her arc ties directly to core themes of injustice, guilt, and societal judgment. This guide breaks down her role and gives you actionable study tools for class and assessments.
Justine is a secondary character in Frankenstein, a young woman taken in by the Frankenstein family after her own family's misfortunes. She becomes a scapegoat for a violent crime she did not commit, highlighting the novel's critiques of prejudice and failed accountability. Jot down 2 key traits that define her public perception and. her true self.
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Answer Block
Justine is a working-class character in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, raised in the Frankenstein household after being abandoned by her mother. She is quiet, loyal, and dedicated to the family, but her marginalized status makes her an easy target for blame. Her fate underscores the novel's focus on how power and bias warp justice.
Next step: List 3 moments where the Frankenstein family’s actions contribute to her unfair treatment.
Key Takeaways
- Justine is a symbolic stand-in for innocent victims of systemic prejudice
- Her trial exposes the novel’s critique of superficial moral judgment
- Her arc forces Victor Frankenstein to confront (and avoid) his own guilt
- Her quiet resilience contrasts with the monster’s overt rage against injustice
20-Minute Plan and 60-Minute Plan
60-minute plan
- 1. Map Justine’s key scenes, noting how other characters describe and. treat her
- 2. Compare her experience to the monster’s experience of rejection (create a 2-column chart)
- 3. Draft a full thesis statement for an essay about her symbolic role
- 4. Outline 2 pieces of textual evidence to support that thesis
3-Step Study Plan
Action: Track every interaction Justine has with major characters
Output: A 1-page chart listing character, interaction type, and resulting impact on Justine
Action: Connect her arc to 2 core Frankenstein themes (justice, guilt, prejudice)
Output: A set of 3 note cards, each linking a specific event to a theme
Action: Practice writing 3-sentence responses to quiz questions about her role
Output: A document with 5 quiz-style responses ready for review
Discussion Kit
- What makes Justine an easy scapegoat for the crime she’s accused of?
- How does Victor Frankenstein’s silence during her trial reveal his true character?
- Would the outcome of Justine’s trial have changed if she came from a wealthy family?
- How does Justine’s approach to her fate differ from the monster’s approach to his own suffering?
- What does Justine’s arc teach readers about the difference between legal justice and moral justice?
- Why does Mary Shelley include Justine’s character alongside focusing solely on Victor and the monster?
- How do the townspeople’s reactions to Justine reveal the novel’s view of mob mentality?
- What would you have done differently if you were in Elizabeth’s position during Justine’s trial?
Essay Kit
Thesis Templates
- In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Justine’s unjust death exposes how societal prejudice against marginalized groups allows powerful people to avoid accountability for their actions.
- Justine’s quiet resilience in the face of false accusation serves as a moral foil to Victor Frankenstein’s cowardly refusal to take responsibility for his creation.
Outline Skeletons
- Intro: Hook about scapegoating, context for Justine’s role, thesis statement. Body 1: How class bias leads to her accusation. Body 2: Victor’s inaction as a key cause of her fate. Body 3: Her death’s impact on Victor’s later guilt. Conclusion: Tie her arc to modern issues of systemic injustice.
- Intro: Context about moral foils in Frankenstein, thesis about Justine and Victor. Body 1: Justine’s loyalty and sense of duty to the Frankenstein family. Body 2: Victor’s selfishness and refusal to confront his mistakes. Body 3: How their contrasting choices highlight the novel’s core message about responsibility. Conclusion: Restate thesis and broader thematic significance.
Sentence Starters
- Justine’s treatment reveals that the Frankenstein family’s supposed moral goodness is actually a facade because
- Unlike the monster, who acts out against his oppressors, Justine responds to injustice by
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Exam Kit
Checklist
- I can explain Justine’s relationship to the Frankenstein family
- I can link her fate to Victor Frankenstein’s inaction
- I can identify 2 themes tied to her character arc
- I can name 1 key event from her accusation or trial
- I can compare her experience to the monster’s experience of rejection
- I can draft a thesis statement about her symbolic role
- I can list 1 way class bias contributes to her unfair treatment
- I can explain why she admits to a crime she didn’t commit
- I can connect her arc to the novel’s critique of justice systems
- I can answer a short-response question about her role in 3 sentences or less
Common Mistakes
- Mistaking Justine for a minor, irrelevant character alongside a symbolic core figure
- Blame Justine for her own fate alongside focusing on systemic bias and Victor’s inaction
- Failing to connect her arc to the monster’s arc, which weakens thematic analysis
- Overlooking the role of class and gender in her unfair trial
- Forgetting that her death is a key turning point for Victor’s character development
Self-Test
- 1. What makes Justine an easy target for false accusation?
- 2. How does Victor’s silence during her trial impact his later guilt?
- 3. What theme does Justine’s fate most clearly highlight?
How-To Block
Action: List all traits that make Justine a marginalized character (class, gender, status)
Output: A 1-page list linking each trait to a specific injustice she faces
Action: Practice answering 2 discussion questions from the kit out loud, using textual context
Output: A recorded voice memo or written script of your responses
Action: Use one thesis template from the essay kit and pair it with 2 pieces of textual evidence
Output: A 3-paragraph essay draft ready for peer review
Rubric Block
Character Analysis Depth
Teacher looks for: Clear connection between Justine’s actions/fate and the novel’s core themes
How to meet it: Link every claim about Justine to a specific event or character interaction from the text
Thematic Alignment
Teacher looks for: Ability to show how Justine’s arc reflects broader messages of the novel
How to meet it: Compare her experience to another character’s (like Victor or the monster) to highlight thematic parallels
Evidence Use
Teacher looks for: Specific, relevant textual context to support claims about Justine
How to meet it: Avoid vague statements; instead, reference key scenes (accusation, trial, confession) to back up your points
Justine’s Narrative Purpose
Justine’s arc exists to expose the hypocrisy of the privileged class in the novel. The Frankenstein family claims to be kind and moral, but they abandon her when she needs them most. Use this before class to lead a discussion about moral complicity.
Justine and Victor’s Guilt
Victor Frankenstein’s refusal to speak up during Justine’s trial is one of his most cowardly acts. His guilt over her death haunts him for the rest of the novel, pushing him deeper into isolation. Create a 2-column list of Victor’s actions and. Justine’s actions during her trial.
Justine as a Symbol of Injustice
Justine’s unfair conviction shows how marginalized people are often scapegoated for the crimes of the powerful. Her quiet acceptance of her fate contrasts with the monster’s rage, highlighting two different responses to systemic oppression. Write a 3-sentence paragraph linking her fate to a modern real-world example of scapegoating.
Key Interactions to Study
Focus on Justine’s interactions with Elizabeth Lavenza, Victor Frankenstein, and the townspeople during her trial. These moments reveal the true values of each character, as well as the biases of the society they live in. Highlight 2 of these interactions in your annotated copy of the novel.
Prepping for Quiz Questions
Most quiz questions about Justine will focus on her relationship to the Frankenstein family, her unfair trial, and her symbolic role. Practice answering questions in 3 sentences or less to ensure you stay focused on key details. Create 3 practice quiz questions and share them with a study partner.
Essay Tips for Justine’s Arc
When writing an essay about Justine, avoid focusing solely on her as an individual. Instead, tie her arc to broader themes like justice, guilt, and prejudice. Use one of the thesis templates from the essay kit to structure your argument. Draft a 1-page outline for your essay before writing the full draft.
Why does Justine confess to a crime she didn’t commit?
Justine confesses to protect her reputation and gain spiritual absolution, as she believes lying would condemn her soul. Her confession also reveals her lack of power to challenge a system already stacked against her.
Is Justine related to the Frankenstein family?
No, Justine is not blood-related to the Frankenstein family. She is a poor, orphaned child taken in by the family as a servant and companion to Elizabeth Lavenza.
How does Justine’s death affect Victor Frankenstein?
Justine’s death fills Victor with intense guilt, as he knows his creation is the real culprit and his silence led to her execution. This guilt pushes him to isolate further and vow revenge against the monster.
What themes does Justine’s arc highlight?
Justine’s arc highlights themes of systemic prejudice, moral complicity, injustice, and the consequences of cowardice. Her fate also exposes the hypocrisy of the privileged class in the novel.
Editorial note: This page is independently written for educational support. Verify specifics with assigned class materials and the original text.
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