"Since you have preserved my narration," said he, "I would not that a mutilated one should go down to posterity."
Letters, Walton, _in continuation._ · Victor Frankenstein
Context
Victor discovers that Walton has been recording his narrative, asks to see the notes, and insists on correcting them himself to ensure accuracy and completeness for future readers.
Analysis
Victor's concern that his story not be 'mutilated' reveals an obsession with legacy and public memory—he wants posterity to judge him on his own terms. The metaphor of mutilation casts any editing or abridgment as a kind of physical violence done to the truth, positioning Victor as the sole authority over his own meaning.
Essay Tip
Use this to argue that Victor remains self-concerned even at the end—rather than seeking moral clarity, he's managing his reputation, showing that ambition has merely shifted from scientific to narrative control.