Mary Shelley uses the epistollary style of narrative in the form of letters from the first main character we are introduced to 'Robert Walton' to his sister Margaret which makes the story seem more credible and removes the author from the narrative.  This gives the novel a first-person perspective, as a result the information presented to the reader is limited by the reliability and availability of information to the character relating the story and the reliability of the character himself.

  The story begins in the icy wastes of the north pole, a place which in this period of history is still one of the great unknowns.  It is because of this that I believe Shelley makes this the backdrop for her story, here is a place where anything could happen.  Shelley's description of the setting is important because it helps the reader to get an impression of the environment, the vast majority of people at the time had very little information regarding such distant places.

  The three main characters of the novel are Robert Walton, Viktor Frankenstein and the creature.  Robert Walton is 28, Captain of a ship embarked on a voyage of to discover a passage around the north pole to the Pacific or die trying.  A clue to his motives is his name, 'Robert' which means fame-bright, if he is successful he would certainly be famous.   He is also something of a romantic, a kind and gentle man who cares for the well being of his crew, however he is of noble birth  and despite being lonely and surrounded by people is unable to befriend anyone of such common stock.

  Next we have Viktor Frankenstein, a broken and exhausted man travelling the cold wastes of the north pole on a sled.  Close to death he is rescued by Robert and brought aboard his ship.  Here through Roberts letters we learn that Viktor is a very unhappy man, melancholic and perhaps a little mad.  Robert describes him as noble, wise, gentle, cultivated and well spoken, he sees in him the friend he has longed for.  While it is not intended that we doubt his word, Robert is limited by his own perceptions and as Frankenstein relates his story the reader might begin to question this initial assessment.   As Frankenstein tells his story we begin to see a somewhat different character, not unlike Robert he is driven to explore the boundaries of nature.  Fascinated by science and inspired by the ancient alchemists Viktor is consumed by the desire to make a great discovery.  The name Viktor means, one who conquers, and after a great deal of study and experimentation he finally discovers a way to conquer death.

  Here we are introduced to the third main character.  Lovingly and painstaking put together from the most beautiful bits of dead people, Frankenstein describes his crowning achievement as a hideous, yellow eyed, 8 foot tall catastrophe, with shrivelled complexion and black lips and yellow skin through which can clearly be seen the muscles and arteries beneath.  Beautiful black hair and shining white teeth only serve to emphasise how frighteningly ugly the thing is.  The creature reaches out to his father who horrified and disgusted at his handiwork,  runs away.