If you’ve only ever watched the old black-and-white movies, you probably think the "Frankenstein" story is just about a big green guy with bolts in his neck. But Mary Shelley’s original 1818 novel is way darker and more personal. At the heart of that darkness is a little boy named William Frankenstein. He isn't just some random extra; he's the match that lights the entire fire.
Honestly, most people forget he exists until he’s dead.
Who Is William Frankenstein and Why Is He the First to Go?
William is the baby of the Frankenstein family. He’s the youngest brother of Victor, the scientist who played God. In the book, he’s described as this "darling" child—rosy cheeks, blue eyes, and dimples. Basically, he represents everything pure and happy that Victor eventually ruins.
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He lives in Geneva with his father, Alphonse, and his other brother, Ernest. He’s the favorite. The one everyone dotes on.
But his life ends in a patch of grass outside the city walls.
Why did he have to die? It was sort of a freak accident of fate. The Creature—Victor’s abandoned experiment—was wandering the woods, feeling rejected by every human he met. He stumbled upon William and had this weirdly naive thought: Maybe this kid is too young to be prejudiced. Maybe he’ll love me.
It didn't work out like that.
The boy screamed. He called the Creature a "monster" and an "ugly wretch." Then, in a moment of pure bratty desperation, William threatened him. He said his father, M. Frankenstein, would punish the Creature.
That was the mistake.
When the Creature realized the boy was related to his creator—the man who gave him life and then left him to rot—his sadness turned into a white-hot rage. He strangled the boy right there. It was his first murder, a direct "thank you" to Victor for the gift of existence.
The Murder That Changed Everything
William’s death isn't just a sad plot point. It’s a pivot.
Before this, the Creature was mostly just a lonely guy trying to learn how to read and talk. After he kills William, he realizes he has power. He says, "I too can create desolation." It’s a terrifying shift. He stops being a victim and starts being a predator.
The Injustice of Justine Moritz
What makes the death of William Frankenstein even more messed up is what happens next. The Creature didn't just kill the kid; he framed a family friend.
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Justine Moritz was a servant who was basically part of the family. The Creature found a locket William had been carrying—a picture of his mother—and tucked it into Justine's pocket while she slept.
The authorities found it. They didn't care that she had no motive. They saw the "evidence" and sentenced her to death. Victor knew the truth. He saw the Creature lurking in the shadows during a lightning storm, but he stayed quiet. He was too scared of being called a madman.
So, because of one little boy's death, two innocent people died, and Victor’s soul started to rot from the guilt.
Comparing the Book to the Movies
If you’re looking for William in the 1931 Boris Karloff movie, you won’t find him.
The filmmakers swapped him out for a little girl named Maria. In the movie, the death is an accident—the Creature thinks she’ll float like the flowers they’re throwing in the lake. It makes the "monster" seem more like a confused child.
But in the book? The murder of William is intentional. It’s spiteful. It’s the Creature declaring war on his "father."
| Feature | Novel (William) | 1931 Movie (Maria) |
|---|---|---|
| Motive | Revenge against Victor | Tragic misunderstanding |
| Method | Strangled in the woods | Drowned in a lake |
| Aftermath | Justine is framed and executed | The village forms a lynch mob |
| Age | About 6 years old | Roughly the same |
What We Learn from William’s Fate
You’ve got to look at what William represents. In the world of Romantic literature, children were seen as symbols of nature and innocence. By having the Creature kill the youngest Frankenstein, Mary Shelley is telling us that Victor’s "science" has officially destroyed the "natural" world.
It’s a warning.
When we stop taking responsibility for what we create—whether it's an AI, a scientific discovery, or even a child—the innocent are usually the first to pay the price. William is the collateral damage of Victor's ego.
If you’re studying the book or just curious about why the story feels so heavy, keep your eye on William. He’s the ghost that haunts Victor more than the Creature ever could.
To really get the most out of the story, you should look into the "De Lacey" family chapters next. That’s where you see exactly how the Creature learned the language he used to curse Victor. It explains the "why" behind the "who" of William’s death.
Check out the original text of Chapter 7 if you want to see the exact moment Victor gets the letter about his brother. It’s a masterclass in suspense.
Next Steps for Readers:
- Re-read Chapter 16 of the 1818 edition to see the Creature’s perspective on the murder.
- Compare the portrayal of William in the 1994 Kenneth Branagh film, where he actually appears and follows the book more closely.
- Research the "Justine Moritz trial" to understand how Shelley used William’s death to critique the legal system of her time.