| William Frankenstein | |
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 | |
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Real Name |
William Frankenstein |
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First Appearance |
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818) |
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Original Publisher |
Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor & Jones |
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Created by |
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Origin[]
William Frankenstein is a young boy in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. The son of Alphonse and Caroline Frankenstein, and the youngest brother of Victor and Ernest, William is described by Elizabeth Lavenza as handsome, cheerful, and innocent—his “sweet laughing blue eyes” and “rosy cheeks” symbolizing purity and childhood joy.
Angry at humanity’s rejection, the Creature travels to Geneva intending to confront Victor. There, he encounters William and, upon learning he is Victor’s brother, strangles the boy in a fit of rage. To conceal his crime, the Creature frames the family’s servant, Justine Moritz, who is wrongfully convicted and executed.
Later, when Victor and the Creature meet again on the Mer de Glace, the Creature recounts his story and demands that Victor create a female companion believing it to be his only chance at peace.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of William Frankenstein from before January 1, 1930 are public domain in the US.
Some notable appearances are listed below:
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818)
Public Domain Film Appearances[]
- Tales of Tomorrow: Frankenstein (1952)