The Cycle of Violence and Suffering

The interconnected series of violent acts and suffering that spirals out of control, affecting all characters.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The First Murder

The Beginning of the Cycle The Act The monster kills William, an innocent child. This is the first physical act of violence in the conflict. It is a direct result of Victor's rejection of the monster. The Reaction Victor is horrified, but remains silent. The monster's act is answered by silence, which allows the cycle to continue. Justine is executed, adding another death to the tally. The Escalation Each death triggers a new response. Victor's decision to destroy the female creature leads to the deaths of Clerval and Elizabeth. The cycle of violence is self-perpetuating.

The Final Murders and Death

The Climax of Violence The Loss of Clerval The monster kills Henry Clerval, Victor's dearest friend. This is a turning point: Victor's grief turns to total obsession. He is now solely focused on revenge. The Murder of Elizabeth The monster's most devastating act: killing Elizabeth on her wedding night. This destroys Victor's last hope for happiness. The cycle is now complete: Victor has lost everyone he loves. The End Victor dies in the pursuit, and the monster vows to kill himself. The cycle of violence ends with the destruction of both parties. The novel shows that violence begets violence, and no one escapes unscathed.

May 7th, William's murder

From Clerval's death to Victor's death