The Development and Change of the Monster in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

The Development and Change of the Monster in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

The structure of Frankenstein begins as an epistolary, narrative story

by Robert Walton to his sister (Mrs Saville) in England. Walton’s

letters tell us that he is exploring, searching for what lies beyond

the North Pole and that he longs for fame and glory. Walton and

Frankenstein connect in this novel as they both seek and have a thirst

for knowledge. For Walton it is his exploration, for Frankenstein it

is to discover the secret of life.

Walton’s letters announce the discovery and rescue of a stranger –

Victor Frankenstein. This is another connection between these two

characters because when Victor is found he tells Robert Walton his

story (this is after the monster has told his story to Frankenstein)

and of course Walton passes on his version to his sister. This shows

an elaborate series of frames because Victor’s story is embedded

within Walton’s. However the innermost embedded narrative in this

novel is the story the monster tells to Frankenstein as this is in the

central part.

Shelley has been very clever writing this novel because within it

there are several stories and several points of view within the

telling of these stories. Walton, Victor and the monster each tell

their own stories.

From the start of the monster’s narrative (Chapter 11) he is, from

birth constantly developing at a rapid pace. He is similar to a human

being in a way that he cannot remember his first moments of life.

However his differences are alarming because he can vaguely remember

his discovery of sensations and his awareness of senses. Also, the

short time it takes...

... middle of paper ...

...le to cause mischief by placing the portrait in a fold of Justine’s

dress. We finally find out here what happened to Justine and that

Victor’s family was right to claim that she would never harm William.

The monster’s narrative ends with him describing how he sometimes

‘haunted’ the place of William’s death just for a chance to see Victor

or to think about ending his own life. His last few sentences are in

direct conversation to Victor when he offers a deal. He insists on

having a companion as deformed as he is so that she would not deny

herself to him. He tells Victor that this companion must be of the

same species and have the same defects. Throughout his embedded story

one of the only things which have remained the same about the

monster’s character is the need for a companion. He desperately needs

an Eve.