I have communicated to him without disguise
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.
