Who is Robert Walton?
Walton is a sea captain seeking a passage through the Arctic to the Atlantic.. He
rescues Victor who tells him the narrative of his life and the monster’s narrative.
Walton writes down these narratives and plans to send the manuscript to his
sister Margaret Saville in England
*Robert Walton in Mary Shelley's 1818 masterpiece, Frankenstein, serves as a
powerful foil, or contrasting character, of Victor Frankenstein. Walton narrates the
novel in epistolary form, through fictional letters to his sister.
Appearance
Although it isn’t revealed what Walton looks like in many respects, the image of Walton
that emerges from his letters prepares the reader for the character of Frankenstein:
They share the same impassioned concentration on a single goal they are both
more preoccupied with a narcissistic self-regard than with the needs of other
people.
It is hardly surprising, therefore, that Walton welcomes Frankenstein onto his ship
so enthusiastically and is so enthralled by his story:
He recognises in Victor someone who is like himself
He recognises someone with whose attitude to life he can readily identify.
Personality
Robert Walton is a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders. The novel
begins with him describing to his sister his desire for a friend, someone to
understand him, someone to empathize with him.
Walton may be seen as a double for Victor Frankenstein ,as he rebels against his
father’s dying wish to go to sea similar to Victor dismissing his father about his
readings in alchemy
Walton has a number of characteristics in common with Frankenstein himself: he
exhibits a masculine desire to explore, discover, conquer and control. he pitches
himself against nature in his search for a new northern sea passage.
Reckless
Arrogant
Ambitious
Double to Victor
Lonely-Longs for companionship
Believes he is superior amongst crewmates due to his intelligence
Key Quotes
“May tread a land never before imprinted by the foot of man”-Letter 1
Demonstrates scientific ambition of geographical discovery
Ambition places him in the role of a parallel character
“My education was neglected, yet I was passionately fond of reading”-Letter 1
Walton himself is a fairly typical Romantic character because he educated himself
and is travelling for his own educational purpose
“I have no friend Margaret”
“When I am glowing with success there will be no one to participate in my joy”-
Letter 2
Loneliness and isolation
This in reality suggests that there is no one amongst his crew who is cultivated
enough to satisfy his needs
*Example of Walton’s Narcissistic self regard, characteristic he shares with Victor
, “But then is wholly uneducated”-Letter 2
Walton believes he is superior
Reinforces his narcissistic nature-Alludes to theme of social class-Shelley
critiquing 19th century society
“I shall kill no albatross”-Letter 2
This quotation becomes aligned with the theme of excessive ambition. Robert
Walton writes it to his sister in order to assure her that he will not bring any evil
upon himself.
The line alludes to Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem, Rime of the Ancient Mariner,
in which a captain shoots down an albatross (a type of bird), and in doing so
brings chaos upon his ship. There is, again, the sense of harming nature and
receiving the ramifications of doing so. In a sense, this anticipates the current
phenomenon of global warning, and is applicable to our current situation
“Albatross”is a symbol of innocence, goodness dead albatross is then symbolic of
sin and bad luck.
“What can stop the determined heart and resolved will of man”-Letter 3
Power of man-Contextual link to Enlightenment which focused on reasoning and
rationality contrasts Romantic though of nature being superior
Shows Shelly is critiquing the Enlightenment Movement-Shows her progressive
attitude
May be displaying hint of Hubris as his arrogance may lead to his downfall similar
to Victor
“Untamed yet obedient element”-Letter 3
Critiquing Enlightenment-Nature doesn’t submit to him as easily as he hopes-Self
orientated
“Very stars themselves being witnesses and testimonies of my triumph”-Letter 3
Obsessed with geographical discovery
May believe its fate which reinforces his egotistical self-orientated temperament
“Savage inhabitant of some undiscovered island “-Letter 4
Shows Walton’s prejudicial nature
Places the creature in the role od the “Other”
Otherness-Any person/it/thig that doesn’t conform to a socially acceptable set of
rules
Shelley effectively critiquing 19th century society -Cautionary tale-warns about the
impacts of prejudice and social ostracism
“Thirst for a more intimate sympathy”-Letter 4
Reinforces his loneliness -wants a friend
Loneliness is shared characteristic between him and the creature
“I am surrounded by mountains of ice which admit no escape”-Walton in
continuation
Gothic trope-Hostile environment reinforces sense of danger
Entrapment
Shows willingness and focus on ambition
“Vessel should be freed…direct my course southward”-Walton in continuation
Will return back to civilisation familial love-difference between him and Victor
Power of familial love-cautionary tale reminds readers the importance of
benevolence-Alludes to beliefs of the philosopher Rousseau who believed society
corrupts individuals -Believed man by nature was good
Abandoned ambition for his family and sanity
“If we are lost, my mad schemes are the cause”-Walton in continuation
Theme of excessive ambition
Reckless as he is ready to endanger crewmates for his selfish ambition
Similar to Victor
“I would rather die, than return shamefully—my purpose unfulfilled”-Walton in
continuation
, Ambition will lead to his inevitable downfall, similar to Frankenstein
Arrogance
Shelley effectively critiquing societies obsession with success
“It is past; I am returning to England. I have lost my hopes of utility and glory.”
What do these statements imply about the nature of “home?" -Walton in
continuation
For Victor, his ambition was all or nothing, but for Walton “home” still represents
a place where he will always be accepted and where he can gather himself
together, recuperate,
Walton is a sea captain seeking a passage through the Arctic to the Atlantic.. He
rescues Victor who tells him the narrative of his life and the monster’s narrative.
Walton writes down these narratives and plans to send the manuscript to his
sister Margaret Saville in England
*Robert Walton in Mary Shelley's 1818 masterpiece, Frankenstein, serves as a
powerful foil, or contrasting character, of Victor Frankenstein. Walton narrates the
novel in epistolary form, through fictional letters to his sister.
Appearance
Although it isn’t revealed what Walton looks like in many respects, the image of Walton
that emerges from his letters prepares the reader for the character of Frankenstein:
They share the same impassioned concentration on a single goal they are both
more preoccupied with a narcissistic self-regard than with the needs of other
people.
It is hardly surprising, therefore, that Walton welcomes Frankenstein onto his ship
so enthusiastically and is so enthralled by his story:
He recognises in Victor someone who is like himself
He recognises someone with whose attitude to life he can readily identify.
Personality
Robert Walton is a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders. The novel
begins with him describing to his sister his desire for a friend, someone to
understand him, someone to empathize with him.
Walton may be seen as a double for Victor Frankenstein ,as he rebels against his
father’s dying wish to go to sea similar to Victor dismissing his father about his
readings in alchemy
Walton has a number of characteristics in common with Frankenstein himself: he
exhibits a masculine desire to explore, discover, conquer and control. he pitches
himself against nature in his search for a new northern sea passage.
Reckless
Arrogant
Ambitious
Double to Victor
Lonely-Longs for companionship
Believes he is superior amongst crewmates due to his intelligence
Key Quotes
“May tread a land never before imprinted by the foot of man”-Letter 1
Demonstrates scientific ambition of geographical discovery
Ambition places him in the role of a parallel character
“My education was neglected, yet I was passionately fond of reading”-Letter 1
Walton himself is a fairly typical Romantic character because he educated himself
and is travelling for his own educational purpose
“I have no friend Margaret”
“When I am glowing with success there will be no one to participate in my joy”-
Letter 2
Loneliness and isolation
This in reality suggests that there is no one amongst his crew who is cultivated
enough to satisfy his needs
*Example of Walton’s Narcissistic self regard, characteristic he shares with Victor
, “But then is wholly uneducated”-Letter 2
Walton believes he is superior
Reinforces his narcissistic nature-Alludes to theme of social class-Shelley
critiquing 19th century society
“I shall kill no albatross”-Letter 2
This quotation becomes aligned with the theme of excessive ambition. Robert
Walton writes it to his sister in order to assure her that he will not bring any evil
upon himself.
The line alludes to Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem, Rime of the Ancient Mariner,
in which a captain shoots down an albatross (a type of bird), and in doing so
brings chaos upon his ship. There is, again, the sense of harming nature and
receiving the ramifications of doing so. In a sense, this anticipates the current
phenomenon of global warning, and is applicable to our current situation
“Albatross”is a symbol of innocence, goodness dead albatross is then symbolic of
sin and bad luck.
“What can stop the determined heart and resolved will of man”-Letter 3
Power of man-Contextual link to Enlightenment which focused on reasoning and
rationality contrasts Romantic though of nature being superior
Shows Shelly is critiquing the Enlightenment Movement-Shows her progressive
attitude
May be displaying hint of Hubris as his arrogance may lead to his downfall similar
to Victor
“Untamed yet obedient element”-Letter 3
Critiquing Enlightenment-Nature doesn’t submit to him as easily as he hopes-Self
orientated
“Very stars themselves being witnesses and testimonies of my triumph”-Letter 3
Obsessed with geographical discovery
May believe its fate which reinforces his egotistical self-orientated temperament
“Savage inhabitant of some undiscovered island “-Letter 4
Shows Walton’s prejudicial nature
Places the creature in the role od the “Other”
Otherness-Any person/it/thig that doesn’t conform to a socially acceptable set of
rules
Shelley effectively critiquing 19th century society -Cautionary tale-warns about the
impacts of prejudice and social ostracism
“Thirst for a more intimate sympathy”-Letter 4
Reinforces his loneliness -wants a friend
Loneliness is shared characteristic between him and the creature
“I am surrounded by mountains of ice which admit no escape”-Walton in
continuation
Gothic trope-Hostile environment reinforces sense of danger
Entrapment
Shows willingness and focus on ambition
“Vessel should be freed…direct my course southward”-Walton in continuation
Will return back to civilisation familial love-difference between him and Victor
Power of familial love-cautionary tale reminds readers the importance of
benevolence-Alludes to beliefs of the philosopher Rousseau who believed society
corrupts individuals -Believed man by nature was good
Abandoned ambition for his family and sanity
“If we are lost, my mad schemes are the cause”-Walton in continuation
Theme of excessive ambition
Reckless as he is ready to endanger crewmates for his selfish ambition
Similar to Victor
“I would rather die, than return shamefully—my purpose unfulfilled”-Walton in
continuation
, Ambition will lead to his inevitable downfall, similar to Frankenstein
Arrogance
Shelley effectively critiquing societies obsession with success
“It is past; I am returning to England. I have lost my hopes of utility and glory.”
What do these statements imply about the nature of “home?" -Walton in
continuation
For Victor, his ambition was all or nothing, but for Walton “home” still represents
a place where he will always be accepted and where he can gather himself
together, recuperate,
