Chapter 7

Victor receives his father's anguished letter announcing William's murder. Henry reads it and weeps; Victor immediately resolves to go to Geneva, and they part on the street.

Victor immediately concludes that the creature he created must be the murderer, recalling the creature's threat to be with him on his wedding night.

Victor recognizes that he bears responsibility for William's death because his actions in creating the creature led directly to this tragedy.

Victor is tormented by the fact that he knows who the murderer is but cannot convince anyone else or take effective action to stop the creature.

As Victor crosses toward Geneva in dawn light, he reasons through the impossibility of telling his story—no one would believe him—and resolves to remain silent about the creature.

Clerval's tearful words of consolation about poor William accompany Victor to the carriage; he bids his friend farewell and sets out on his melancholy homeward journey.