Frame Story

"I am by birth a Genevese, and my family is one of the most distinguished of that republic." pg. 14

This story starts out with letters, which then lead to a new narrator, which leads to more letters, then to yet another narrator. I don't even think frame story begins to describe Frankenstein. 

That was my question exactly at first. Why make a story within a story within a story etc.? It all began to make sense as I read the novel. The story is so unbelievable and interesting that it needed to be told to someone, which is why Robert Walton is writing to his beloved sister. He happened to have strikingly similar characteristics to Victor as well. The two men both seek answers to questions that shouldn't be answered. Hopefully Victor's story can convince him to leave those questions alone. The story then shifts focus to letters from Victor's cousin/adopted sister/lover, Elizabeth. These letters are so important because they're Victor's only connection to home. It's his way of knowing what's happening to his family. After a while longer, the creature begins to narrate and tell his story to Victor. This gives us insight into the creatures mind, as opposed to our strictly external view we've had of him. All of these different stories are leading the story through the time that's elapsing. They're all necessary for the story to make sense.