Part G: Frame Technique

Using different narrators throughout the novel creates several different implications that leave the reader with more then one biased viewpoint. This leaves the reader unsure of who's the real monster, and who's most human of all the characters. During the narration of Victor Frankenstein, from the moment his creation came to life it was described as the most grotesque looking beast on earth. Even though it probably was, the narrators description overrides the astonishingly human characteristics and actions of the creature which make it so human. Reading the novel from Victors perspective makes you forget that his creation is in fact very human-like, because as he describes it, all you can picture is a giant with yellow eyes and metal body parts with nuts and bolts. When the creatures speed and strength is talked about in such magnitude, it makes the reader feel as if this was some alien that was capable of anything. "As I said this I suddenly beheld the figure of a man, at some distance, advancing towards me with superhuman speed." pg 82


I think even Victor himself forgets how human the creature is, as he is seemingly paralyzed from its appearance, and mistakes its most ordinary movements as an attempt to do harm. Then when they finally meet face to face and the creature tells its tale from its viewpoint, all of a sudden you start to sympathize with it because you realize it's just trying to make do with what it has. It has the ability to learn of languages, religion, geography, etc, all without the help from parents which far surpasses the ability of the average human. These two very different narrations have a major shift of perspective on the reader.


Mary Shelley's frame technique makes clear to the reader that the events taking place are a thing of the past. Depending on the "story teller" decides on the bias of the tale and in turn how it creates an image for each figure. If the novel was based on present occurrences then there would be no alternating viewpoints and only a concrete telling of whats taking place. Instead, the story is passed through several people and told to another which enables it to be manipulated. Technically the reader could be counted as yet another receiver of the tale and is faced with several changing viewpoints. With a set of frameworks such as these, it is difficult to form an image of each character because of the different bias stories. This ultimately leads to the big question of who is the true monster in the novel and also why this question is so hard to answer. One might think that the original story is the only trustful and non-adjusted account, which may be true. But the creatures tale is told through Frankenstein and Walton both of whom are probably against it and wish to maintain a fearful and distrustful image of it.


In conclusion, I enjoyed the frame technique because even though it leaves the reader slightly unsure, you get to experience each characters perspective separately and it leaves you as the reader to decided who's who.