Question

mary shelley elaborated a complex technique of narrative frames and multiple viewpoints. the structure of frankenstein is not linear, but circular; we bore our way into the \heart of darkness\ (which is also the heart of feeling, of sympathy) and then come back out again. we begin with letters from the explorer walton, who then gives us the narrative of victor frankenstein, who in turn gives way to the monsters own telling of his tale. after the monsters speech (which takes up most of volume two in the original three - volume edition), we then come back out to frankenstein, and then to walton. in story - telling terms, this technique has wonderful advantages: it allows us to get a central characters firsthand, eyewitness account, and at the same time permits us to learn about his death (as we cant normally do in a first - person narrative, where the tale dies before the teller). in emotional terms, the method plays complicatedly with our capacities for sympathy, as each new character seems first a fearful stranger, then our closest intimate. (this is particularly true of the monster, who is utterly obscure to us in frankensteins account, utterly appealing in his own.) and in philosophical or moral terms, the use of multiple narratives is itself a commentary on the complex nature of truth. in frankenstein, there are no given facts; everything we are told is a function of someone or others viewpoint. this applies even to the monsters death or disappearance at the end. walton, watching from the cabin of his ship, tells us that the creature \was soon borne away by the waves and lost in darkness and distance.\ but this doesnt literally mean he was lost at sea; it simply means that walton lost sight of him.
introduction by wendy lesser, in mary shelley, frankenstein, or the modern prometheus, everymans library, knopf, 1992, pp. xx - xxi.
according to lesser, what are some advantages of the way shelley built her text with three different viewpoints in a circular structure? check all that apply.
readers can better develop sympathy for each character.
readers get to see the story from different characters points of view.
this structure increases the suspense that readers feel.
this structure helps readers to understand there is no one truth.

Explanation:

• The text mentions that "In emotional terms, the method plays complicatedly with our capacities for sympathy" which supports the first option.
• It states "it allows us to get a central character’s firsthand, eyewitness account" (implies different viewpoints, so second option).
• Also, "in philosophical or moral terms, the use of multiple narratives is itself a commentary on the complex nature of truth. In Frankenstein, there are no given facts; everything we are told is a function of someone or other’s viewpoint" which backs the fourth option. There is no mention of increased suspense in the text.

Answer:

• Readers can better develop sympathy for each character.
• Readers get to see the story from different characters’ points of view.
• This structure helps readers to understand there is no one truth.