This quote of course comes from Chapter Eight, which
details the trial of Justine for the supposed murder of Victor's younger brother. What
is key to realise about this chapter is the way that the inhumanity and injustice of man
is explored. In spite of Justine's obvious innocence, the way that the judges, the
system of law and justice and the bystanders treat her shows humanity to be
bloodthirsty, fickle and violent. She is "execrated" by the bystanders that come to
watch her trial and sentence as if it were an entertainment. Even the attempt of
Elizabeth to testify to Justine's good character rather backfires, as is shown in the
following quote:
A murmur of approbation followed Elizabeth's
simple and powerful appeal; but it was excited by her generous interference, and not in
favour of poor Justine, on whom the public indignation was turned with renewed violence,
charging her with the blackest
ingratitude.
Again and again,
this incident testifies to the inhumanity of man. What is important to note is the way
this links in to a vital theme of the novel, which is the presentation of the creature
himself. He starts off innocent and wanting a relationship with his maker. It is the way
that he is shunned by his maker and by humanity and treated cruelly that forces him into
cruelty, but this cruelty is only paralleled by the monstrous nature of humanity as
displayed in incidents such as the trial of Justine. We cannot expect the creature to be
good when he has no model of goodness on which he can base his
behaviour.
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