In what ways does Shelly's Frankenstein benefit from having Walton as a narrator?

  Frankenstein’s structure is that of a frame narrative, which is used to emphasise the Doppelganger effect and the gothic convention of 'The Other' both familiar and unfamiliar to our human condition. The duality and enclosed nature of the narrative structure epitomises the duality of the novel, as an exploration into the recesses of scientific endeavour. The frame narrative isolates Victors tale and ambition into a cave of its own, imbedded within Walton's narration, heightening the sense of the uncanny and a repression of an uncontrolled psyche which bubbles to the surface. Walton's narration constructs the frame narrative, which becomes key in understanding Shelly's character parallels. Victor, Walton and the Creature are parallels of each other within the frame narrative, and from this structure the reader can identify similarities between the ‘protagonists’. Firstly, the Creature is an inverted embodiment of Victor Frankenstein. The creature becomes a visual representation of 'The Other', and acts as the literal presence of Victor’s dark un-checked psyche. Victor’s incestuous feelings about Elizabeth are oppressed by his socialised mind, restraining him to the norms and values expected of him. The only way he can release his feelings are in his dreams where he is “delighted and surprised” to see her. The word “delighted” suggests a longing her has had for her, which he struggles to supress and that he does care for her. However, this word is instantly followed with “surprise” suggesting that even in his dreams, he knows instantly this is wrong and that it would be frowned upon by society, so he is still restrained. The Creature, on the other hand, is free and not limited by social norms because he is an ‘outcast’ and ‘abhuman’. He represents the longing desires Victor has, which the Creature is able to commit because he is already stigmatised as a “fiend” and “daemon”. It is implied, in Shelly’s novel, that the Creature rapes Elizabeth before he has killed her, drawing attention to the reader Victors forceful and threatening nature of masculinity, he tried to repress. Yasser Rahman, also suggests the Frankenstein is “heavily implicit that the monster rapes Elizabeth” and that by doing so Victor cannot “consecrate his marriage”. Elizabeth is “thrown across the bed”- “thrown” suggests she is like a doll or play thing and this could be a criticism that Shelly had at the time, that women were seen as objects. The frame narrative in this instance allows us to compare the beginning of Victor’s tale, and his description of Elizabeth, to the end of his tale- when he is fist presented with Elizabeth by his parents he calls her a “gift” and at the end of the novel she is “thrown” onto the bed; both words give the impression that Elizabeth (women) are weak and passive; something for men to play with and enjoy, but once they are bored they are just cast aside. Thus, throuhg Walton's frame narrative, physically distances us from the monstrosities Shelly depicts in Victor's narrative. Walton's narration thus protects the audience from the disastrous effects of scientific endeavour reaching beyond its limits.