Frame Story Narrative

Mary Shelley uses the frame story as the narrative technique in her novel.  The story is told by Walton in letters to his sister.  So, essentially, the story is told from his point of view. Within Walton’s story, we hear Victor’s story of exploration and creation.  Within Victor’s story, the reader is then given the perspective of the creature’s struggle to gain acceptance and his motivations for revenge.  So, you have three stories, Walton’s, Victor’s and the creature’s – a story in a story in a story. 

How does this narrative technique affect the reader’s interpretation of the events as they happen in the book?  What advantage is there to each story being told by its respective narrator?  Does the frame story eliminate bias? Can we rely on the narrator to tell us the “whole” story?

Essential Questions

At the start of Frankenstein you were given these essential questions.  Choose one of these to answer in a well-thought-out blog post.

¡What consequences  do we face if we do not take responsibility for our actions?

¡How does lack of compassion lead to prejudice and stereotyping?

¡In what ways does scientific advancement present positive and negative consequences?

¡Which has a greater impact on human development – nature or nurture?

Religious Influences in Frankenstein

Allusions pervade Frankenstein.  The novel commonly known as Frankenstein is subtitled The Modern Prometheus.  According to the Greeks, Prometheus was given the task of creating man, which he is said to have created out clay.   Prometheus stole fire from the gods to give to mankind.  The gods, afraid that mankind would rival their power, punished Prometheus by chaining him to a rock where an eagle ate his liver which grew back each day. There are also allusions to Christianity when the monster is compared to Adam. The monster is also compared to the fallen angel – Satan – and Victor takes on comparisons to God. Shelley uses the following quote from Paradise Lost as an epigraph to the text:

"Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay
To mould me Man, did I solicit thee
From darkness to promote me?"
– Paradise Lost, X, 743-45

Do the book’s religious influences force characters to be either good or evil? What might Shelley be saying about this?