Storytime for Grownups with Faith Moore
Episode Summary: Frankenstein – Chapter 8
Date: September 25, 2025
Host: Faith Moore
Episode Overview
In this episode, host Faith Moore continues her guided reading of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, focusing on Chapter 8. Faith recaps the devastating events that unfolded in previous chapters and then reads the dramatic events of Justine’s trial for the murder of William, Victor Frankenstein’s younger brother. She intertwines her reading with thoughtful commentary, raising philosophical questions about creation, responsibility, justice, and the nature of evil, inviting listeners to reflect and engage.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Recap of Recent Events
[03:28]
- Faith recounts how Victor rushes home after learning of William’s murder, only to suspect his own creation is responsible.
- Justine, the family's maid, is accused after William's locket is found with her, with Elizabeth wracked by guilt for having let William wear the locket.
2. Listener Comments: Context and Critique
[04:47]
- Nathan Black comments on Mary Shelley's use of letter and backstory as a narrative device for Justine:
“We get this weird exposition moment that’s a backstory of stuff that Victor should theoretically already know about this servant girl under the guise that he probably forgot about her. It’s definitely an interesting writing choice...”
(04:47, paraphrased from listener letter, with host engagement) - Elizabeth (listener) wonders about the two-year gap in which Victor apparently ignores the fate and actions of his own creation, questioning Victor’s responsibility.
3. Victor’s Responsibility as a Creator
[07:32]
- Faith notes, “...at least in this case, one thing that happens if you create someone in the lab and then completely abandon it, is that it kills your brother.”
- She reiterates, “We can all agree that Victor has shirked his responsibility.” (08:22)
4. Mary Shelley's Narrative Choices
[09:54]
- Faith acknowledges Shelley's clunky exposition regarding Justine and observes that classic novels often forge their own path with backstory and character development due to genre conventions of their time:
“But remember that the novel is a relatively new art form at this point...the kinds of things that we expect from novels now...were still being worked out.”
(10:21)
5. Victor’s Perspective on Evil
[12:30]
- Victor swiftly concludes the creature is inherently evil, stating, “I had turned loose into the world a depraved wretch whose delight was in carnage and misery, had he not murdered my brother.”
- Faith pushes back:
“Did the creature come into the world evil? ...Can a being even come into the world evil? ...Isn’t it more likely that it’s the intervening years that have turned it into a murderer and not simply the fact of its existence?”
(13:02–13:28)
6. Victor’s Identification with His Creation
[13:43]
- Victor refers to the creature as “my own vampire, my own spirit let loose from the grave and forced to destroy all that was dear to me,” blurring lines between self and his creation.
7. Atmospheric & Cinematic Moments
[11:50]
- Faith highlights Shelley’s use of moody, cinematic imagery during Victor’s encounter with the creature in the storm:
“As I said these words, I perceived in the gloom a figure...”
(12:01: direct from text)
“A flash of lightning illuminated the object and discovered its shape plainly to me...”
(12:05: direct from text)
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
- On Victor’s guilt:
“In a way, although we don’t have all the details yet, Victor is responsible for this murder just as much as his creature is." (08:22, Faith Moore)
- On the nature of evil:
“Did the creature come into the world evil? Remember that first scene of him kind of toddling after Victor and babbling and smiling and all that? Can a being even come into the world evil?” (13:02, Faith Moore)
- On foreshadowing and melodrama:
“I foresaw obscurely that I was destined to become the most wretched of human beings.” (15:31, Direct from text, read by Faith)
“In all the misery I imagined and dreaded, I did not conceive the hundredth part of the anguish I was destined to endure.” (15:34, Direct from text) - On the tragic turn of events:
“The person to whom I addressed myself added that Justine had already confessed her guilt. That evidence, he observed, was hardly required in so glaring a case. But I am glad of it…” (28:01, Faith reading)
- On Justine’s coerced confession:
“I did confess. But I confessed a lie. I confessed that I might obtain absolution, but now that falsehood lies heavier at my heart than all my other sins.” (31:37, Justine, as read by Faith)
- On remorse and suffering:
"I bore a hell within me which nothing could extinguish. We stayed several hours with Justine, and it was with great difficulty that Elizabeth could tear herself away." (34:56, Victor narrating, as read by Faith)
Important Timestamps & Segment Highlights
- 03:28–04:40 — Recap of Chapter 7 and setup for Chapter 8, summary of William’s murder, Justine’s arrest, and Victor’s suspicions.
- 04:47–07:51 — Host commentary on listener questions regarding exposition, Victor’s neglect, and the timeline of the creature’s absence.
- 07:51–10:30 — Discussion of Victor’s responsibility, narrative clunkiness, and the purpose of Justine’s backstory.
- 11:30–12:48 — Dramatic analysis of Victor’s stormy encounter and assumptions about the creature’s nature.
- 13:43–15:01 — Host challenges Victor’s view of innate evil and examines his psychological link to the creature.
- 15:01–16:36 — Foreshadowing, melodrama, and setup for future chapters.
- 16:36–40:01 — Read-aloud of Chapter 8, detailed depiction of Justine’s trial, coerced confession, condemnation, and execution. Interleaved are Faith’s explanatory notes and clarifications on language and Victorian social context.
Memorable Moments
- The earnest despair and steadfast innocence expressed by Justine during her trial, especially her coerced confession and her dignity in the face of execution.
- Elizabeth’s moving defense of Justine, underscoring her unwavering belief in her friend’s innocence.
- Victor’s agonizing guilt over the deaths caused directly and indirectly by his actions, culminating in profound remorse and foreshadowed tragedy for the family.
Philosophical and Literary Questions Raised
- Does creation without responsibility make the creator culpable for the harm the creation inflicts?
- Can evil exist innately, or is it shaped by neglect, environment, and experience?
- What is the role of circumstantial evidence and public sentiment in miscarriages of justice?
Listener Engagement & Invitation
Faith encourages listeners to reflect on:
- The nature of evil—Is Victor’s condemnation of the creature’s character justified?
- The creator’s obligation—How much guilt does Victor truly bear?
- Lessons in justice—What does Justine’s trial reveal about the limitations of the legal system?
Listeners are invited to send comments and questions for inclusion in future episodes.
Episode Tone
The episode maintains a tone that is warm, inquisitive, and gently critical—Faith Moore blends literary analysis, philosophical questioning, and empathetic guidance as she navigates Shelley’s text. She remains approachable, curious, and invested in both the novel and her listeners’ learning journey.
Next Steps
- Write to Faith with your reactions and thoughts for discussion in the next episode.
- Look for the announcement of the next “Tea time” event.
- Explore the Storytime for Grownups merch and online community through the provided links.
“We’re changing the world by reading books and talking about them together. I really believe that.”
— Faith Moore, [03:11]