Frankenstein Narrative

Here are the class notes from Ms Lucas' lesson:

Narrative Constructs

3 narrative forms inform the structure

V Shaped

Walton                                                                                                                                                 Walton

                Frankenstein                                                                                     Frankenstein

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                MONSTER

 

This construct suggests layers of narrative with Walton’ narrative at the surface (“present narrative”) and below is Victor’s cautionary tale relating to Walton’s future.  Meanwhile the Monster’s narrative is the deepest and darkest.  The V shape implies a descent into darkness and a re-emergence from this darkness with Walton concluding the narrative.  The V shape also suggests open endedness; the Monster’s fate is uncertain (though implied) and also Walton’s future is left in the balance (though it has been established that he will turn homeward).  Finally there is doubt cast regarding Walton’s heeding of the warning of Frankenstein cautionary narrative.  In essence this construct underpins the uncertainty of the  fate of 2 of the main characters and whether the novel’s message has  been acknowledged

 

Chinese Boxes

This is not an open ended structure but promotes a closed ending to the novel with Walton as the frame narrative of the tale where the narratives of both the monster and Victor are encapsulated. The parallels between Walton and Victor suggest links between their narratives and also their character (parallels and contrasts are recurrent theme in the novel).  Interestingly Frankenstein’s narrative is penned by Walton (letters (epistolary novels) are used in Dracula too) and this prompts questions and speculation on the reliability of the narrator.  How reliable is Walton?  He is not part of the creator/monster experiment and so perhaps has a detachment that affords him a privileged and so reliable stance?  However he does not meet the Monster until the final stages of the novel when he hears an eloquent account from the Monster using rhetoric (    ) to justify his slaughter.  Walton’s narrative relies primarily on the narrative of Victor.  How accurate can this be?  Consider issues of filtering and editing in recounting tales . 

Compared to Ofred in The Handmaid’s tale would you say Walton is a reliable narrator?  On what do you base this judgement?

(we discussed coherence, chronology, consistency in use of language, memory, tense, stream of consciousness etc)

 

Returning to the box concept we see the inescapable ties between characters with the Monster’s narrative unable to be distinct from Víctor’s.  At the heart of this box concept is the Monster who has been linked to Pandora (Prometheus linked to Pandora) whose opening of a box led to the terrors visiting mankind.  Joseph Conrad’s novel “heart of darkness” How far is the monster the forbidden box from which all terror emanates following Victor’s foolish opening?

 

Consider who is the Monster in the tale?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Concentric Rings

Circles and cycles are important in terms of science and suggest eternity, a constant process of renewal and some consider aesthetically pleasing. (ecosystem, nature, water cycle, reproductive cycle, lunar cycle etc)

This concept suggests enclosure of narratives with interactions between characters with the monster at the core.  The difference is that the ring design suggests a difference in movement through the novel- the V shaped implies a linear movement through Walton and the boxes again indicate movement from Walton on an inwards trajectory, the rings reposition the power such that the Monster is at the core with the narratives radiating from him.  This model makes the monster the driving force of the narrative.  Remember Walton sees the Monster before he encounters Victor and in Letter 4 describes him as a ”savage inhabitant” little knowing the significance of this sighting.  By the end of the novel the last image is of the Monster as reported by Walton “ borne way…..lost in darkness and distance”

 In other ways the monster is the impetus for the events that unfold: the monster galvanises Victor to embark on scientific exploration; the monster drives Victor’s ambitious impulse (the ambition itself may be seen as ”monstrous or at least the selfish pursuit of glory) and it is the monster who incites a terrible all-consuming revenge in Victor (revenge is often seen as ”wild justice” and ultimately self-destructive.