How Successfully Do Walton's Letters Introduce the Central Themes and Concerns of the Novel "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley? Essay Example
How successfully do Walton's letters introduce the central themes and concerns of the novel "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley?
Walton is a sailor looking for a paradise. He believes that it exists on the north pole, even though most people would strongly disagree with this hypothesis. There are many similarities between his character and that of Victor Frankenstein, helping introduce the central themes and concerns to the novel. Walton's letters to his sister are the frame of the story. Even the main part of the story is written by Walton and sent to his sister. The first letter is written in December and is sent from St. Petersburgh. Here, we find out about Walton's journey and goal. Walton describes the paradise that he imagines to be on the north pole “the region of beauty and delight. (…) the sun is for ever visible”. A place like this is one where many people would be grateful to be in, so if Walton does find it, he will be glorious and famous. The journey can also be interpreted as a metaphor for both Frankenstein's and Walton's ambitions. They start out with their families, in a safe place, but their over-ambitiousness leads to deaths of people they need. This makes us question where this journey leads, especially since it's set in such wild and inhospitable locations. Walton, similarly to Frankenstein, describes the scenery in huge detail, which is typical of a Gothic novel. The wild landscapes could be representing Frankenstein's or Walton's states of mind; the geological frontiers symbolising their inability to realise where ethical frontiers stand. Both Frankenstein and Walton refuse to live a normal and calm life and decide to go on adventures for knowledge. Neither of them can see reason and they prefer glory and fame to wealth. They pursue science and exploration to benefit mankind, but also for personal glory. A question the readers often ask is whether they have good motifs, or whether their ambitions are driving them crazy. Walton's language
Walton is a sailor looking for a paradise. He believes that it exists on the north pole, even though most people would strongly disagree with this hypothesis. There are many similarities between his character and that of Victor Frankenstein, helping introduce the central themes and concerns to the novel. Walton's letters to his sister are the frame of the story. Even the main part of the story is written by Walton and sent to his sister. The first letter is written in December and is sent from St. Petersburgh. Here, we find out about Walton's journey and goal. Walton describes the paradise that he imagines to be on the north pole “the region of beauty and delight. (…) the sun is for ever visible”. A place like this is one where many people would be grateful to be in, so if Walton does find it, he will be glorious and famous. The journey can also be interpreted as a metaphor for both Frankenstein's and Walton's ambitions. They start out with their families, in a safe place, but their over-ambitiousness leads to deaths of people they need. This makes us question where this journey leads, especially since it's set in such wild and inhospitable locations. Walton, similarly to Frankenstein, describes the scenery in huge detail, which is typical of a Gothic novel. The wild landscapes could be representing Frankenstein's or Walton's states of mind; the geological frontiers symbolising their inability to realise where ethical frontiers stand. Both Frankenstein and Walton refuse to live a normal and calm life and decide to go on adventures for knowledge. Neither of them can see reason and they prefer glory and fame to wealth. They pursue science and exploration to benefit mankind, but also for personal glory. A question the readers often ask is whether they have good motifs, or whether their ambitions are driving them crazy. Walton's language