In Frankenstein Shelley uses a frame narrative; a Chinese box structure of stories within a story. The use of the three different narratives causes there to be no omniscient narrator to present a view of the story. The reader is aware that each narrator is telling only their version of the story and this causes the reader to have to form their own opinions of the story and make their own judgements on the characters.
The outermost frame narrative is told by Walton; who becomes a catalyst for Frankenstein to tell his story. From the opening letters of the novel Walton comes across as extremely ambitious and determined to tread a land never before imprinted by the foot of man. The reader is also made aware of how dangerous Waltons expedition is as from the very first paragraph it is associated in the readers mind with words such as disaster and evil forebodings. Thus, once Frankenstein is introduced in the story, the reader can see how similar the two characters are, as Frankenstein also wants to pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers. The parallels between the two characters show to the reader that Frankensteins story is not just a one off but that it could happen again; therefore forcing the reader to take note of the message of his story more seriously. Frankenstein also realises this and so feels he has to tell his story so as to stop Walton making the same mistakes that he has; hoping that he will deduce an apt moral from my tale. Therefore, Walton is very important to the story as he gives Frankenstein a reason to tell it. This also makes Frankenstein tell a more honest story as he is not just telling it, but warning someone not to repeat history. It also emphasises the message of the novel as Frankenstein tries to tell Walton what Shelley is trying to show the world.
Parallels can be drawn not only between Walton and Frankenstein, but also between Walton and the monster. They both have neglected educations and Walton speaks of his passionate fond of reading; similar to the monsters self education through reading. Just as Walton bitterly feels the want of a friend, so too does the monster desire a companion. The similarities between these two characters is used to show the normality of the monsters needs and therefore helps the reader understand and sympathise with the monster more.
In Waltons narrative Shelley uses an epistolary narrative which was very typical of the 19th Century and Shelley uses these letters to add a sense of realism to the story. It seems like Shelley is trying to make the story seem more like non-fiction, so as to emphasise the message of the novel. Shelley uses techniques to do this throughout the novel, such as using real places as her settings, so that the reader gets more involved in the story as they believe it to be real. Although Walton is writing to his sister, the reader is put in her place and therefore feels more involved in the story from the very beginning, and this raises the tension of the novel that the reader feels. The use of all the narrators in Frankenstein also adds to the feel of the book being non-fiction. Gregory Schneider comments this creates a distance from the readers reality, and with each pass in the narrative, the more plausible the storys conceit becomes. With the narrative passing, Shelley hooks her audience into a slow arrival of believability.
The narration then moves on to Frankensteins tale told through the voice of Frankenstein himself, although still being relayed to the reader by Walton. Frankenstein telling his story in his own words makes the tale more interesting and exciting and so holds the readers interest. It also gives more of an insight into the character as the reader can see his innermost thoughts, although it is important to still be aware that we are only told what he has said to Walton and therefore may not know everything.
The final narrative is that of the monsters; it is the narrative that all the others are framed around which makes it seem more important; causing the reader to take more notice of what the monster is saying and sympathise with him more. It is the climax of the narratives as the character that all other narratives have been concerned about can finally put its view across. The circuitous motion of the narrative has a mothering quality which emphasises the theme of parenthood. The monster is embedded in the middle of all the narratives; which can be seen as the structural womb. Shelley uses this effect to constantly keep in the readers mind how important parenthood is in the novel and how Frankenstein has wronged the monster.
Some critics believe Shelley has used this structure as a way of distancing herself from the story. This separates Shelly from responsibility to the story's autobiographic markers, detaching herself from father William Godwin and his theories on the perfectibility of man, the countless miscarriages and deaths of her children, and her own doomed relationship with Percy Shelley. Indeed, with each pass from narrator to narrator, Shelley removes herself further from any cloying notion that this might be a metaphorical roman clef. Anne Mellor sees this distancing as an output of Shelleys doubt of herself as an author Shelley doubted the legitimacy of her own literary voice, a doubt that determined her decision to speak through male speakers. This infers that Shelley overcame the prejudices against a female writer of the time by writing through male perspectives.
Already have an account? Log In Now
7219