Many punishments for crimes are often given to innocent people. In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, there are several instances in which the punishment is given to an innocent person. Justine, a maid at the Frankenstein residence, was killed for a crime she did not commit. Felix, a character the Monster encounter, was exiled from his country, for helping an innocent man escape from jail. Lastly Victor himself was jailed for a murder, which he did not commit.Justine was killed because Victor Frankenstein’s younger brother, William, was murdered. An item that William was wearing during the night of the murder was found on Justine leading everyone to believe that Justine is the murderer. When Victor arrives back to Geneva and hears that Justine has been accused of the murder his reaction was, “Justine Mortiz! Poor, poor girl, is she accused? But it is wrongfully; everyone knows that; no one believes it, surely…”. Victor knew the Monster killed William and probably framed Justine. He knew Justine was innocent, but no one believed him. Justine was also forced to give a false confession, and was hanged. People dislike being insecure, like having a murderer loose among them, so they punish a scapegoat, like Justine, to ease their minds.When Felix and his family were living in Paris, a Turk was arrested and sentenced to death. Felix and many others believed that his religion and wealth were the cause of his condemnation, not the alleged crime. Felix however takes matters into his own hands, and frees the Turk from jail, but the government captures his family. Felix surrenders in hope that his family will be spared. However the government exiles all of them. Any body in power punishes any threat to its control with extreme measure to ensure that its power is intact. The Monster also supports this view since, as he conveyed the story to Victor he says, “The government of France was greatly enraged at the esca...
