To whom does Captain Walton address his letters?

Captain Walton addresses his letters to Margaret Saville, his sister in England. These letters form the frame of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and introduce the novel before Victor Frankenstein begins recounting his history.

Walton writes from the Arctic during his expedition toward the North Pole. He shares his ambitions, loneliness, and hope of discovering a passage through the polar seas with Margaret, who remains at home. His letters give the narrative an intimate, personal starting point: readers encounter the expedition through correspondence before meeting Victor aboard Walton’s ship.

Margaret is more than a passive recipient. Because Walton writes to a trusted family member, his account often sounds reflective and confessional. The structure also creates layers of narration: Walton reports Victor’s story, and Victor in turn reports the Creature’s experiences. Margaret Saville should not be confused with Mary Shelley, the author, or with Caroline Frankenstein and Elizabeth Lavenza, characters within Victor’s family circle.