Who鈥檚 to blame for the crimes of Frankenstein 鈥撀爐he man, or the monster?
That鈥檚 the question that the second annual Weldon Literary Moot sought to answer. Last year, the student group from the Schulich School of Law hosted a mock trial of Odysseus from Homer鈥檚 The Odyssey as a fundraiser for Halifax Humanities 101, which provides no-cost humanities education to the local community. This year, the student group took a crack at performing a trial of Victor Frankenstein from Mary Shelly鈥檚 classic novel.
With 100 spectators in attendance at the University of King鈥檚 College鈥檚 Alumni Hall on February 1, the jury was composed of Halifax Humanities 101 students and the Honourable Peter M.S. Bryson of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal. The plaintiff鈥檚 legal team, consisting of third-year law student Michael Murphy and Laurie Jones, an associate with McInnes Cooper, questioned Dr. Frankenstein鈥檚 negligence in creating life. The defence, third-year law student Meghan Smith and Tony Amoud, associate with Boyne Clarke, claimed that it was purely a 鈥渕iracle鈥� that Frankenstein was able to create life at all and the only reason he was receiving criticism for his actions was because of 鈥減ure jealousy鈥� and that 鈥渁ny advancement of science has a price.鈥�
Side-splitting chills and thrills
Local professors and actors played the various parts. Schulich School of Law professor Geoffrey Loomer played Professor Waldman with a 鈥渕ad scientist fro鈥� that captured the audience鈥檚 attention. Saint Mary鈥檚 professor Alexander MacLeod鈥攂undled in a red parka, tartan mittens and holding a rope of fish鈥攇ave a fantastic tribute to Robert Walton, the brave and intrepid explorer who rescued Victor north of the Arctic Circle.
The key witnesses were, of course, the Creature and Victor Frankenstein himself.聽 Laura Penny, Kings professor, played the former, groaning her way pathetically through questioning from both the plaintiff and the defence, sparking uproars of laughter from the audience. Her constant reference to Frankenstein as 鈥淒addy鈥� and her pleas to 鈥渏ust wanting a friend鈥� along with her final statement to the court鈥斺�淚 should not be. I鈥檓 not people. I鈥檓 not even people parts. I did not ask to be born this way鈥濃�攃ertainly swayed the audience.
Dr. Frankenstein was played by Bill Wood of Halifax comedy troupe Picnicface. 鈥淚 inspire myself鈥� he told the defence, and compared creating the Creature to 鈥渓ust.鈥� When asked by the plaintiffs if the parts of the Creature were chosen at random he simply replied, 鈥渢he foot bone is connected to the ankle bone, the ankle bone is connected to the leg bone鈥︹�� After refusing to share with the court what the secret of life is, the plaintiffs asked a final question, 鈥淗ow do you think you鈥檙e not a monster?鈥� to which Frankenstein had no reply.
A strong verdict
After closing arguments from each party, and following much deliberation and consideration on the jury鈥檚 part, the verdict was revealed and Frankenstein found liable for negligence, much to the happiness of the Creature who shouted, 鈥淪ee! I should not be!鈥�
Law student Ben Frenken, who started the event when he was a tutor for Halifax Humanities 101 last year, came up with the idea when he heard that another fundraiser had fallen through. He鈥檚 pleased he and his fellow students have been able to turn the literary moot into a yearly event.
鈥淏y becoming a society we were able to introduce and encourage first and second-year law students to join so that they can continue after we leave,鈥� he says.