Critical Analysis of the First Four Letters of ‘Frankenstein’
Critical Analysis of the First Four Letters of ‘Frankenstein’
We are first introduced to Robert Walton, a 28 year old sea captain who is embarking on a journey to the North Pole in order to find a passage from the Pacific to the Atlantic. The letters are written to his sister, Mrs Saville, in London, England. He has talked about making this expedition for six years; it has been his favourite dream and he is pleased that he finally has a chance to make good on his promise to himself. Although he appears arrogant in the first letter and sees himself as a god like figure, for example Walton says ‘I shall confer on all mankind’ and ‘elevates me to heaven’, he is supposed to be a man of science but is seeing himself as a godly figure. His arrogance is seen often through the first letter as is his tendency to see himself as better than others, placing himself on a pedestal, ‘I imagined that I might also obtain a niche in the temple where the names of Homer and Shakespeare are consecrated.’ Because he sees himself as being superior to others, the readers perceive him as being arrogant and unworthy of any sort of emotion a reader may feel towards the character as of his manor and tone towards himself. Walton has had many other dreams, such as becoming a poet or a playwright have not worked out for him, therefore he makes sure this vision is a success.
Walton is thrilled that he will satisfy an ‘ardent curiosity’ by setting foot on a part of the world never visited by man, he is extremely proud of himself and knows what an achievement he is making which once again brings up his arrogance. He also says ‘I voluntarily endured cold, famine, thirst and want of sleep’ it’s almost as if he sees himself doing it for humanity not for himself which he is doing it for. He worries that he will have no friends on the trip that will be able to sustain his disappointment should his dream not work out, ‘I am required not only to raise the spirits of others but sometimes to sustain my
We are first introduced to Robert Walton, a 28 year old sea captain who is embarking on a journey to the North Pole in order to find a passage from the Pacific to the Atlantic. The letters are written to his sister, Mrs Saville, in London, England. He has talked about making this expedition for six years; it has been his favourite dream and he is pleased that he finally has a chance to make good on his promise to himself. Although he appears arrogant in the first letter and sees himself as a god like figure, for example Walton says ‘I shall confer on all mankind’ and ‘elevates me to heaven’, he is supposed to be a man of science but is seeing himself as a godly figure. His arrogance is seen often through the first letter as is his tendency to see himself as better than others, placing himself on a pedestal, ‘I imagined that I might also obtain a niche in the temple where the names of Homer and Shakespeare are consecrated.’ Because he sees himself as being superior to others, the readers perceive him as being arrogant and unworthy of any sort of emotion a reader may feel towards the character as of his manor and tone towards himself. Walton has had many other dreams, such as becoming a poet or a playwright have not worked out for him, therefore he makes sure this vision is a success.
Walton is thrilled that he will satisfy an ‘ardent curiosity’ by setting foot on a part of the world never visited by man, he is extremely proud of himself and knows what an achievement he is making which once again brings up his arrogance. He also says ‘I voluntarily endured cold, famine, thirst and want of sleep’ it’s almost as if he sees himself doing it for humanity not for himself which he is doing it for. He worries that he will have no friends on the trip that will be able to sustain his disappointment should his dream not work out, ‘I am required not only to raise the spirits of others but sometimes to sustain my