Summary Of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

In the novel, Frankenstein, the author, Mary Shelley, implements a prevalent nineteenth century structure called epistolary within a frame narrative to introduce a sublime story. Through Robert Walton’s letters to his sister, Victor Frankenstein’s life story, and the monster’s interjection, the author provides multiple perspectives to the plot. By allowing each character to share their story that all contain differing point of views, it enables the readers to remain interested and informed. Through the three contrasting narrators, Shelley strengthens the roles of the characters as they respectively convey their emotions and input their personal thoughts.
Walton’s letters to his sister, Margaret, frames Victor’s main story. He opens the story discussing his quest to find an undiscovered country to compensate for his past failures and closes by grieving over the loss of a friend. Giving background on his expedition, Walton explains the cold, bare winter environment he is stuck in and the obstacles that he faced. Moments later, the author introduces Victor, who’s “eyes have generally an expression of wilderness, and even madness,” and was frantically looking for his runaway monster (21). He aboard the ship and share his story to Walton before he dies. Not only does Walton’s input serve as a frame structure, but he highlights similar characteristics between Victor and himself. Their lives parallel in which they were both isolated and eventually turn away from their goal because of their high ambition. Strong willed in their decision to continue despite their oppositions, they focus solely on pursuing the unknown and gradually exempt themselves from the world. In meeting Victor, the epistolary changes to Victor’s narration that Walton ...

... middle of paper ...

... result, when the monster murders his companion, Victor becomes miserable and more isolated. Although the monster had no choice but to live alone, he observed a nearby neighbor, the Delacey’s, and desired to receive affection from that family. By the end of the novel, Victor and the monster were no indistinguishable from each other, both comparable to Satan from Paradise Lost.
Through the use of Shelley’s frame narrative, the reader was offered multiple perspectives to one text. Because of the multiple views, the readers change their attitudes and search for a deeper meaning behind the frame narrative. Frankenstein’s story related to Walton’s in the same way that the monster related to Victor’s narrative. By using Walton as the primary narrator, the author builds suspense and presents the readers with more details about the narrators in their emotions and drives.