Essay on Frankenstein's Foil Characters: Walton and the Creature

Frankenstein and the creature’s thirst for knowledge bring them to eventually find what they are looking for but it also takes them to dangerous, and unwanted places. When Frankenstein first encounters Walton, he tells him “You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been”(Shelley14). Significantly, Frankenstein became obsessed with science, which led to the creation of a new life form. He

The statement that Victor Frankenstein is telling Walton deciphers an aspect of human life, which is that individuals are creatures that are not completed until another half is found, which is a friend. A friend who possesses greater attributes that makes one want to improve the qualities one possesses. The quote is significant to the story due to the fact that Victor Frankenstein was seeking his other half just as Walton since they lack that satisfaction from someone that could understand them and help them improve. The need for a companion is the beginning of Frankenstein's creation in order to fulfill that emptiness with an intellectual being. The statement connects to life as well since throughout life people seek that companion that will better them and share similar qualities, such as both men seek since one of the greatest fears of men is solidarity, which both men felt.

In the early chapters of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley the character of Walton is introduced through a series of letters he is writing to his sister back in London (the whole novel is an epistolary structure) as he is on a voyage to the North Pole in hope of fulfilling his goal of a breakthrough scientific discovery and “discovering some of nature’s most profound secrets”. Walton is full of hope and scientific curiosity and a passionate determination that he will achieve his goals “I shall satiate my ardent curiosity with the sight of a part of the world never before visited,

Mary Shelley, the renowned author of Frankenstein, explores the consequences of man and monster chasing ambition blindly. Victor Frankenstein discovered the secret that allowed him to create life. His understanding of how bodies operated and the science of human anatomy enabled him to make this discovery and apply it to the creation of his monster. Walton wished to sail to the arctic because no sailor has ever reached it. The monster was created against his will, his ambition was to avenge his creation as a hideous outcast. These three characters were all driven by the same blind ambition.

After having rescued Victor Frankenstein from his grueling descent into the Arctic to track the monster that is plaguing him, Robert Walton, a seafarer, becomes privy to the story of Frankenstein’s monster. As the story is relayed to him, Walton begins to share the incredible tale through several letters to his sister, Margaret Saville. While in the midst of one such letter, Walton is interrupted by a disturbance resulting in his own visualization of the monster, making a significant impact on him, as prior to the encounter, the monster was only a fictitious apparition. The encounter between Walton and Frankenstein’s monster is utterly understated by its introduction into Walton’s letter. Although the story of the monster had only indirect inflictions upon Walton as it was conveyed to

Frankenstein is a novel by Mary Shelley that challenges the reader to consider what it really means to be human, specifically when impacted by loneliness and isolation. In the opening letters of Frankenstein, Captain Robert Walton craves a real connection with someone while out at sea, and feels sad and isolated as a result. Later in the novel, Victor Frankenstein is disconnected from the outside world and feels misunderstood, so he recreates life in his isolation. Most importantly, however, the creature is provoked by his isolation and loneliness to act out against the world around him. His actions are driven by his experiences with humanity, and although he is not actually a human, the creature experiences real human emotions. The creature desires to be accepted, loved, and understood, and when these desires become unattainable, he feels lonely, bitter, and angry, just as any human would.

The character of Robert Walton is more than just a character in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”. In “Frankenstein” the family bond is constantly brought up throughout the story. The family bond is represented as something that should be important to the characters through the relationships Walton and Frankenstein have with their respective families. It is only when the characters of Walton and Frankenstein leave the comfort of their families do they experience problems. The character of Walton is used to further demonstrate how self destructive it can be to the characters when they desert their families. Walton

Walton is very picky about who he wants to be his companions, he does not see his fellow sailors as anything more than hired workers. Walton wants someone who could understand his want, maybe even need, for knowledge as he says to his sister, “I have no friend, Margaret: when I am glowing with the enthusiasm of success, there will be none to participate in my joy; if I am assailed by disappointment, no one will endeavor to sustain me in dejection (Shelley 4).” As Walton continues on his journey he finds his first true friend, Victor Frankenstein, finally he is no longer alienated because of his pursuit for knowledge. But after Victor has told his story Walton realizes that knowledge can lead to destruction, and can see the sailors’ way of

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley mostly revolves around Victor Frankenstein, the protagonist, and the plot focuses on his creation of the monster, the antagonist, and the tragic consequences that arise from his actions. As the main focuses of the novel, both Victor and the monster are dynamic characters, and throughout the story, their actions reveal moral dilemmas. Walton, a ship captain, saves Victor in the North and while he is absent during most of the narration, Walton still makes significant appearances at the beginning and the end of the novel. He is a developed character that serves to contrast Victor’s. The minor characters include Elizabeth, Justine, William, Alphonse, and Henry, and while they make sporadic appearances in the novel, they are still significant. As close friends and family to the protagonist, their unwavering concern for Victor’s well-being ultimately influences some of his decisions. However, due to Victor’s guilt-induced isolation from society, their characters are not focused on or explored in depth. Most notably, they function to add to Victor’s misery, and their unfortunate deaths contribute to the novel’s depressing tone.

Walton explains how he has no friends to his sister saying, “But I have one want which I have never yet been able to satisfy; and the absence of the object of which I now feel as a most severe evil. I have no friend, Margaret: when I am glowing with the enthusiasm of success, there will be none to participate my joy; if I am assailed by disappointment, no one will endeavour to sustain me in dejection” (Shelley, 18). Walton's goal in the life to discovery something new. It is his passion and he is willing to risk anything for it. Parallels between Walton’s isolation and his passion are seen. The conclusion can be made that because Walton did not have any companions so he occupied his time by dreaming of discovery. While Walton's is in the North Pole, he refuses to turn around the ship and is willing to risk his crew’s life. Walton’s isolation drives him to make poor decisions and risk lives, just like the monster.

Therefore, the scene on the left side of the cover page that Walton is looking to the land on the north side on a boat was depicted. However, Walton is not the only person who has a desire of seeking for unknown knowledge and acquiring knowledge. Victor Frankenstein shares the same “madness” with Walton because he had a thirst for understanding the secret of life and creating a human. Moreover, the monster has a

The strong ties that exist between Frankenstein and his family are also apparent in Walton’s relationship with his sister. Throughout Frankenstein’s research in Ingolstadt and his struggles with the monster , Frankenstein maintains contact with his family. Despite the length of Walton’s journey , he updates his sister on his location and condition frequently. Frankenstein waits patiently for the day he will finally marry Elizabeth, and her death leaves Frankenstein seeking only to “pursue and destroy the being to whom [he] gave existence”(S 187) and join his love in death. Walton has many adventures but longs for the day he will see his sister again.

Walton’s story contrasts Frankenstein’s to emphasize Frankenstein’s character and to illustrate multiple themes in Frankenstein. The major differences between Walton and

Furthermore, it’s understandable that Frankenstein and Walton want a relationship with someone who is “...Half made up, if one wiser, better, dearer than ourselves — such a friend ought to be.” Friendships should be based on trust and basically enjoying their company. In friendships, the friends should strive to better each other; this doesn’t mean try to fix every bad trait they exhibit. With this in mind, Walton values such a relationship that he doesn’t understand the true nature of Frankenstein. Though, the influence of Frankenstein’s story is enough for Walton to change his mind about his

The novel started off with multiple letters from Robert Walton to his sister, Margaret. Robert was the captain of a ship that was traveling to the North Pole. The beginning of Frankenstein served several purposes. It not only introduces the main character, but it also sets the overall tone of the story. Beyond that, the first section of the book also prepares us for the events that will come later in the book. Robert Walton does it through writing letters to his sister in London. His letters also give the readers an insight of Dr. Victor Frankenstein. The readers also learn from Robert Walton’s letters more about Frankenstein's personality.