The Novel begins on a ship sailing north of the Arctic Circle, where the captain spots a figure traveling across the ice on a dog sled.

This is Victor Frankenstein's creature, and close behind is Dr. Frankenstein himself. Invited onto the boat, the weak and ill Doctor tells the story of his alchemical studies and eventual construction of a man from inanimate matter.Frankenstein starts to recover from his exertion and then recounts a story of his life's miseries to Walton.

He explains how his obsession for wisdom led him to this predicament.

Before he begins his narrative, he makes Walton promise to capture the monster.

Once Frankenstein is finished telling his tale he grows weary and passes away.

The sadness culminates in the creature, that victor so longed to destroy was destroyed in turn by Victor's own death.