Walton is clearly passionate about going on the expedition he is about to embark on. He talks about, "the joy a child feels when he embarks in a little boat with his holiday mates, on an expedition of discovery," when referring to the journey(Shelley 8). He is clearly adamant about going on this expedition. It seems as though he has worked rather hard to get where he is, and his hard work ethic is continuing on the expedition. Walton says in his letter, "I often worked harder than the common sailors during the day, and devoted my nights to the study of mathematics, the theory of medicine, and those branches of physical science from which a naval adventurer might derive the great practical advantage." (Shelley 8). One can see that Walton is serious about what he does and that he is a very hard worker. He also strives to learn more and know as much as he can, even if it does not come easy.
Walton might be so hungry for an expedition like this because he has wanted it since he has been a child. However, he was not allowed to when he was a child, because his father died at sea and his uncle did not see it fit that Walton share his father's fate (Shelley 8). Walton says, "This expedition has been the favourite dream of my early years." which shows how long he has wanted it (Shelley 8).
Shelley does a good job of opening the story by creating and showing Walton's emotions.
I cannot help but to sympathize with the monster that Frankenstein created. Volume 2 is told from the perspective of the Frankenstein’s creation. After leaving Ingolstadt, he is quickly introduced to the elements of nature, and his senses, of which he is still learning to differentiate. To this point, we only know that this creature is hideous, and enormous, and therefore do not associate any human-like characteristics with.
ReplyDeleteWhen he begins to relate his journey to Frankenstein, I immediately begin to shape a more detailed character from his story. He feels fear for the first time, as well as pleasure, and begins to observe things which are pleasant to him.
The creature eventually finds a place to settle where he can observe a family through a hole in the wall. He learns to speak and read as they do, as he intently listens to the instruction given to a guest in their house. He learns much about mankind, and their vices and virtues, and a multitude of information that, if not for his appearance, he would surely be accepted by anyone who granted him an audience. He develops a deep love for these people and longs for the opportunity to show them that he is not as he appears to be. “I formed in my imagination a thousand pictures of presenting myself to them, and their reception of me. I imagined that they would be disgusted, until, by my gentle demeanor, and conciliating words, I should first win their favor, and afterwards their love” (Shelly 77).
When he finally gains the courage to present himself, he is beaten by Felix but refrains from defending himself. “I could have torn him limb from limb, as the lion rends the antelope. But my heart sunk within me as with bitter sickness, and I refrained” (Shelly 91). His loneliness, and rejection weighs heavily on his emotions as would be the case with any human being, and his once simple desire to be accepted and to experience companionship are replaced with feelings of rage and revenge.
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ReplyDeleteI think the comparison between Walton and the Creature created by Frankenstein is strangely similar. Walton expresses an urgent desire for a companion. He says in letter 2 to Mrs. Seville “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” ( Shelly 10). He goes on to say that whatever he experiences, whether it be good or bad, triumph or defeat, he will have no one to share his feelings with. He makes it clear in the other letters to Mrs. Seville that this is the most important thing of concern to him, and it weighs heavily on his mind. This is exactly what Frankenstein’s monster wants! It’s the reason that he peeks through the hole of a cottage for hours every day, for more than a year, learning the language, mannerisms and customs of the family that lived there.
I did not have remourse for Victor. To me he was a coward. I also had great sympthy for the monster because the monster was alienated from the beginning of his creation. He was left to fin for himself without knowing anything especially not being able to speak or to gather food, shelter or anything that's needed to perform his daily needs."My travels were long, and the suffering I endured intense."(Shelly 94)
ReplyDeleteThe monster endured such an harsh life besides all the people that was killed it was like the monster was really dead walking having to endure nature also."Nature decayed around me, and the sun beacame heatless; rain and snow poured around me; mighty rivers were frozen; the surface of the earth was nhard, and chill, and bare, and I found no shelter. O earth!(Shelly 94-95)