Frankenstein: Justine's Trial

The trial began at eleven o’clock, and I suffered through every minute of it, knowing that my own work had caused all this.Justine was dressed in mourning, and she looked calm and confident, for she knew she was innocent.But the facts were against her: she had been out all that night, and in the morning a market-woman had seen her near the place where William’s body was found.

And the portrait of my mother had been found in her pocket.Justine explained that she had spent the night searching for William, and when the city gates were shut, she slept in a barn.“I cannot explain how the portrait came into my pocket,” she said. “I can only believe that someone put it there.”

Then Elizabeth stood up and spoke bravely for her: “I have lived with her for years, and I believe she is completely innocent.”The people in the court admired Elizabeth, but they turned against poor Justine even more.Her suffering was nothing compared to mine, for I knew the truth, and yet I could not speak.

The next morning the judges gave their verdict: Justine was guilty.Worse still, I heard that she had confessed to the crime.Elizabeth and I went to see her in prison, and there Justine told us the truth: “I confessed, but I confessed a lie.”

A priest had frightened her day after day, telling her she would be punished forever if she did not confess, until at last she gave in.“I do not fear to die now,” Justine said gently. “You believe I am innocent, and that is enough for me.”Hearing her, I felt a despair deeper than hers: the real murderer was free, and I was the one who had made him.

The next day, Justine died for a crime she had not committed.William and Justine were the first victims of my terrible work.My family wept for them, but my own grief was worse, because I knew the guilt was mine.