Why Frankenstein Still Matters: The Case for Reading Its Opening Chapters

By Cornelius Vanderbilt
Published in The Atlantic

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is more than a Gothic horror tale about a mad scientist and his monstrous creation. It is a deeply philosophical exploration of human ambition, morality, and the cost of pushing boundaries. While most readers remember the dramatic moments—Victor Frankenstein’s hubris or the monster’s vengeance—the novel’s opening letters and first three chapters are often overlooked. This is a mistake. These sections provide critical context for the story’s larger questions and are essential to understanding its message.

The early chapters are not just a prelude; they are the foundation of the novel’s exploration of ambition, ethical responsibility, and the nature of humanity. To skip over them is to miss the story’s moral compass. In an age of rapid technological advancements and ethical dilemmas about AI, genetic engineering, and climate change, the lessons embedded in these chapters are more urgent than ever.

The Letters: A Warning from the Ice

Shelley begins Frankenstein not with Victor’s story but with a series of letters written by Robert Walton, an Arctic explorer. Walton, writing to his sister, is on a mission to discover new lands and unlock the secrets of the natural world. His letters are full of enthusiasm for his quest, but they also hint at the dangers of ambition unchecked by caution.

Walton is a mirror for Victor Frankenstein, the novel’s central figure. Like Victor, he dreams of glory through discovery. When Walton rescues a frail Victor from the icy waters, their meeting is more than chance—it is a warning. Victor’s story is what Walton might become if his ambition goes too far.

By using Walton as a framing device, Shelley invites readers to think about the perspectives through which we hear stories. Whose version of events is the truth? Who gets to decide? This layered storytelling is a reminder that no narrative is simple or free from bias. It challenges readers to question what they hear and to think critically—a vital skill in today’s era of misinformation.

Victor’s Early Life: The Seeds of Obsession

In the first three chapters, Shelley introduces Victor Frankenstein as a young man filled with curiosity and idealism. He grows up in an idyllic setting, surrounded by loving parents, loyal friends, and the beauty of the natural world. Yet within this perfect childhood lies the root of his downfall: an insatiable desire for knowledge and power.

Victor’s early fascination with alchemy and science might seem innocent at first. He reads the works of long-discredited philosophers who dreamed of turning base metals into gold and discovering the secret to eternal life. While his father dismisses these ideas as nonsense, Victor becomes obsessed. This obsession will later drive him to the fateful experiment that creates his monster.

Shelley’s portrayal of Victor’s youthful arrogance is a warning to all who pursue knowledge without considering the consequences. In our own time, as scientists manipulate genetic material and engineers build machines that mimic human intelligence, Victor’s story feels eerily relevant. The early chapters ask us: Just because we can do something, does that mean we should?

Lessons in Responsibility

The opening of Frankenstein also sets up the novel’s central moral question: What responsibility do we bear for the things we create? Victor’s early life is full of promise and privilege, but his choices later bring destruction to himself and everyone he loves. By showing us his early years, Shelley allows readers to see the contrast between what Victor could have been and what he becomes. His downfall is not the result of fate—it is the result of his choices.

For modern readers, this lesson has profound implications. From social media algorithms that spread misinformation to technologies that impact the climate, the creations of our age have unintended consequences. Shelley’s early chapters demand that we think about the long-term effects of our actions. They remind us that creators—whether of ideas, inventions, or policies—must take responsibility for the world they shape.

The Power of the Beginning

Some may argue that these opening sections are slow or unnecessary, but skipping them is like walking into a movie halfway through. The letters and early chapters provide critical context for the story’s later events. They introduce the novel’s major themes—ambition, responsibility, and the ethical limits of progress. Without them, readers risk seeing Frankenstein as merely a tale of horror rather than the profound moral inquiry it is.

Shelley’s genius lies in her ability to weave these ideas into a story that is as gripping as it is thought-provoking. The letters and early chapters don’t just set the stage—they invite us into a conversation about what it means to be human. In a world where technology often outpaces our understanding of its consequences, these questions are more important than ever.

Conclusion: A Cautionary Tale for Today

The letters and first chapters of Frankenstein are not just an introduction to Victor’s tragedy—they are a cautionary tale for us all. They challenge readers to think critically about ambition, responsibility, and the ethical use of power. By reading these sections carefully, we gain not just a deeper understanding of Shelley’s novel but also a clearer perspective on the dilemmas of our own time.

So, the next time you pick up Frankenstein, don’t rush past the beginning. These pages hold the heart of Shelley’s message. They remind us that every great story starts with a question, and the questions Shelley asks are ones we cannot afford to ignore.