frankly
Candor is an important character trait in the novel, and it is to Walton's
credit that he so naturally evinces it. His openness will elicit a
similar frankness from Victor Frankenstein, who for the first time in his
existence will tell his entire story. But that narration, then, raises a
serious problem. Not only are there many signs of instability in it, the
major one being Victor's wish to revise it even as it goes along (Walton 2 and note); but his earlier lack of candor
with his family and friends is akin to dishonesty, which, if so common a
practice throughout his mature life, must raise serious doubts about the
truthfulness of the narration that comprises the bulk of this novel.
