"I try in vain to be persuaded that the pole is the seat of frost and desolation; it ever presents itself to my imagination as the region of beauty and delight." ― Letter 1
Robert Walton is a major character in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and is the brother of Margaret Saville.
Walton is a seafarer who is a friend and caregiver to Victor Frankenstein. He is also the chief narrator who tells his sister back home the tragic tale of Frankenstein when he learns it all from the weak, dying man he rescues while he wants to make his own discoveries.
Description[]
Robert Walton is a lot like the titular character Victor Frankenstein. He is ambitious and wants to do a daring task that no one else has ever done. But he didn't think of the consequences he had made that he would have regretted later. He makes his way up to the Arctic Circle, where his risks his crew members suffering and dying. He comes across Victor on the brink of death and hears an unimaginable story even he wouldn't attempt.
Although he is lesser-known of all the characters in Frankenstein, he's still important for some reasons. Not only does he share the same traits as Victor, but the majority of the whole novel is him written down in letters back at home. He provides the reader with important information about Victor and the Monster and a deeper meaning to his friend's foolish and dangerous obsession that would prevent Walton from carrying the same ambition.
Storyline[]
Arriving at the Arctic[]
On December 11th, around the 18th century, Robert Walton writes to his sister Margaret Saville, who lives in England, that he has left London and arrived safely in St. Petersburg, Russia.[1]He notices how cold it is in St. Petersburg, and the sun is invisible. He reveals he is about to embark on a dangerous expedition to the North Pole, which he describes as a place of "eternal light" with unparalleled beauty. He hopes to make some scientific discoveries and explore a land on which nobody else has set foot. He also hopes that his expedition will be an achievement for mankind by finding the northern passage to the countries on the other side of the world and the origin of the Arctic's magnetism.
Walton remarks that as a child, he was fascinated by voyages that travelled in the seas surrounding the Arctic, and he read many books about voyages from his uncle's library. Despite not receiving an education, he was fond of reading and spent all his time reading about the voyages. However, he was disappointed that his father's dying wish was not to let Walton set sail on an expedition. In his later years, Walton attempted to pursue poetry and even became a poet for one year. He was disappointed when his career as a poet failed until he received a fortune from a cousin and decided to pursue his childhood dreams of travelling the seas.
It has been six years since he went on his first expedition, accompanying whale fishers around the North Sea. He had endured hunger, famine and fatigue but worked harder than the other sailors and would spend his time at night studying mathematics, the theory of medicine, and physical science. Another time, he worked as an undermate with a Greenland whaler, who gave him a second chance on the vessel.
He asks Margaret if he deserves to accomplish some greater purpose. He adds that he had failed to live in wealth and luxury and convinces himself to be strong as he prepares for his North Pole expedition. He appreciates St. Petersburg's weather more than London since he wears a fur-lined coat. He plans to rent a ship and hire crew members to Archangel within a few weeks. He also plans to set sail in June but doesn't know when he will return and expects his expedition to last for months or years, and he reminds Margaret she might not see him again if his expedition fails.
Three months later, on March 28th, Walton writes to Margaret that he has arrived in Archangel, rented a ship, and hired a crew.[2] He laments that he is lonely and has no friends. He wishes for a friend who would sympathize and bond with him. He laments that he is self-educated and has spent the last 14 years of his life reading books about voyages and poetry. At 28 years old, he is illiterate and longs for a friend who won't judge him for being romantic. He knows he won't find a friend in Archangel or the Arctic and talks about his lieutenant, who joins him on the voyage and whose courage and glory inspire him. The English lieutenant was unemployed and was in love with a wealthy Russian woman whose father rejected the relationship. When he met her again, she confessed that her father refused to let her marry an impoverished man and was in love with someone else. Walton's lieutenant later learned the name of his mistress's lover, bought a farm with his money, and then bought some supplies from his rival. He attempted to convince his former mistress's father to marry his rival but refused. The lieutenant immediately left the country and didn't return until he learned his mistress was married.
Walton's departure has been delayed due to the severe winter, but he hopes to set sail as soon as it is early spring. He confesses that he has a passion for the dangerous mysteries of the sea that he has learned from English poets and has become more ambitious in his goal. He asks Margaret if he will see her again in Africa or America, but he cannot guarantee he will be successful. He will only need her letters to lift his spirits.
Meeting Victor Frankenstein[]
On July 7th, Walton writes his third letter to his sister, saying he is safe and already on his voyage to the North Pole.[3]He will have a merchant deliver the letter to England during his homeward voyage from Archangel. Walton and his crew are in good spirits as they arrive in the high latitude with thick sheets of ice and gales. They haven't witnessed anything yet, and Walton assures Margaret he won't be in danger and will succeed.
A few weeks later, the ship is surrounded by ice and thick fog. All Walton and his crew could do was wait for the conditions to clear.[4] The fog eventually clears away, and the men see large ice plains. Suddenly, they spot a large man riding a sled pulled by dogs heading northwards and disappearing from sight. They are surprised as they have never seen anything like this before, but it is impossible to follow its tracks. About two hours later, the ice breaks and their ship is freed. Walton rests until morning, when he sees his crew talking to somebody on one side of the ship. Another rider on a dog sled was spotted on the ice plain the previous night. Almost all the dogs are dead, and the crew persuades the rider to board their ship. When Walton appears on deck, the lieutenant tells the stranger that his captain won't let him die on the open sea. The stranger spoke English with a foreign accent and asked Walton where his ship was going.
The stranger refuses to board the ship until Walton tells him they are heading to the North Pole and agrees to be rescued. Walton and his crew are shocked to see how frozen his limbs are; he also suffers from fatigue and exposure. He faints as the crew carries him on board, and they revive him with some brandy. They wrap him in some blankets and place him near the chimney of the kitchen stove. He slightly recovers and eats some soup. Within two days, he is able to speak, and Walton moves him to his cabin to look after him. Walton is interested in the stranger as he has a wild, sweet and depressed personality. As the stranger is recovering, Walton has a hard time keeping his crew away from him who want to ask him questions. The lieutenant asks the man why he is in the Arctic on a dog sled, and he replies that he is chasing someone also riding a dog sled. Walton says they may have spotted him yesterday riding across the ice.
The stranger becomes aroused after hearing this and asks about the routes that the “demon” went. When they are alone together, the stranger tells Walton he is being too considerate of asking him for information, but he has rescued him. He asks Walton if the ice breaking destroyed the other sledge, but Walton isn’t sure, as the ice was broken up before midnight, and the man the stranger is pursuing is already gone by now.
The stranger insists he must go on deck to watch for the sledge, but Walton says he is still too weak to endure the harsh atmosphere and should stay in the cabin. However, he promises the stranger that someone will look out for him and inform him when they see anything. The stranger gradually improves but is uneasy and quiet when anyone else comes into the cabin except Walton. The crew is interested in him since he is docile and gentle, but they communicate very little with him. Walton starts to bond with him and even loves him as a brother, and he sympathizes with his grief. Walton even writes to Margaret that he may have finally found a friend.
On August 17th, Walton writes that his bond with the stranger increases, and he appreciates his friend’s wisdom and gentleness. He has recovered from his illness and often goes onto the deck to watch the sledge. He would also converse with Walton about his ambitions and how he risks sacrificing everything important to him to acquire knowledge. The stranger has become so distraught that he begs Walton to let him tell him his story. He asks Walton to describe his early years, which Walton does and expresses his desire to find a friend. The stranger tells Walton they are equals and that he once had a friend. Now, he has lost everything and cannot start his life over again. Despite his misery, the stranger is still moved by the beauty of nature.
Two days later, the stranger sees Walton and tells him he has suffered from misfortunes for pursuing knowledge. He decides that if he tells him his story, he may convince Walton to either keep going with his ambition or give up, warning him about unusual events in his story. Walton agrees to hear his story, partly because he’s curious and hopes to save him from his fate. He promises to narrate his story the next day, and Walton makes sure he will write some notes while anxious about what he is about to hear.
Victor's Story[]
The stranger, named Victor Frankenstein, was born and raised in Geneva, Switzerland.[5]His father, Alphonse, was a well-off merchant and became a protector to Victor’s mother, Caroline Beaufort, after her father’s death. They were soon married, and Victor was born two years later. They travelled across Europe for a few more years before settling in Geneva.
Victor had a blissful childhood. When he was still young, his parents adopted an orphaned girl named Elizabeth Lavenza, who became his close companion and playmate. He also became close friends with his schoolmate Henry Clerval and later became fascinated with natural philosophy and alchemy.[6]When he witnessed a tree struck by lightning, he developed another interest in modern science.
When Victor was 17 years old, he was enrolled to study at the University of Ingolstadt.[7]Before he left, Elizabeth fell ill with scarlet fever, and Caroline nursed her back to health. Elizabeth recovered, but Caroline caught the disease and died. Before her death, she wished Victor and Elizabeth would eventually marry. Victor arrived at the University, still grief-stricken from losing his mother. He later met his professors, Mr. Krempe and Mr. Waldman. Mr. Krempe told Victor he wasted his time studying alchemy, while Mr. Waldman supported him and convinced him to pursue his studies in science.
Victor became so focused on his studies that he ignored his family back home.[8]He is fascinated by human anatomy and life after death and even discovered the secret of life. He privately builds a humanoid creature inside his apartment, with body parts from cemeteries and morgues. After months of working on his project, Victor brought his creation to life but was horrified that he had made a hideous, ugly monster.[9]He spent the night roaming the streets until he ran into Clerval, who had arrived to study at the university. Victor was overjoyed to see him again but was weakened from his many months of work and his shock from seeing the Monster. He suffered a fever, and Clerval spent the whole winter nursing him.
When spring arrived, Victor recovered from his illness and was given a letter from Elizabeth. In the letter, she wrote that his family missed him, awaiting his return.[10] Their youngest brother, William, had grown into a healthy child and Justine Moritz, a longtime friend of the Frankensteins, had moved in after her mother rejected her. Victor immediately wrote back, and he and Clerval studied languages together for a year. They even went for a walk in the Bavarian countryside, where Victor was comforted by the beauty of nature.
Victor then received a letter from his father with tragic news that William had been murdered.[11]Victor immediately rushed home but was forced to spend the night outside Geneva. He came across the area where William died and spotted a tall, grotesque figure that resembled the Monster. When he returned home the next day, he learned of more tragic news and that Justine Moritz had been accused of William’s murder after his locket was found on her. Justine tried to proclaim her innocence at her trial, but she was convicted and sentenced to death.[12]Just before her execution, a priest made her confess so she could face salvation. The deaths of William and Justine leave Victor distraught and guilty.
Alphonse took his children to their vacation home in Belrive to ease their grief, but Victor was so depressed that he even considered suicide.[13]He spent most of his time exploring the Chamonix valley, where the landscape briefly cheered him up. But while exploring the summit of Montanvert, he came across the Monster.[14]He cursed the Monster and wished him harm, but the Monster eloquently told him to accompany him and hear him tell his story. Victor would rather kill him, but agreed to listen to the Monster’s story.
The Monster described how he was born confused and unaware of daily elements.[15] He fled from Victor’s apartment and travelled through the countryside until he stumbled upon a hovel attached to a cottage. When he looked inside a crack, he could observe the family living in the cottage, which consisted of a blind old father and his two adult children, Felix and Agatha. Despite the family looking sad, the Monster saw how much they love each other. After a while, he learned that the family was sad because they were poor, and he expressed his sympathy toward them when he stopped eating their food and anonymously left firewood at their door each night.[16] He also learned to speak from their French language, and he was horrified by his appearance when he saw his reflection in a pool. As spring arrived, he was determined to make the family happy again, hoping they would love and accept him as their friend.
One day, a beautiful, dark-skinned woman arrived at the cottage, and Felix was overjoyed to see her.[17]Her name is Safie, and she didn’t speak French, so Felix taught her with a book called Ruins of Empire by the Comte de Volney. The Monster learned along with her, such as world history and good vs evil, but realized he is deformed and alone and can never be connected with humanity.
The Monster then recalls the family’s history he had learned after observing them for months.[18]The family’s name is De Lacey, and they were once a respected noble family living in Paris. Safie was the daughter of a Turkish merchant, falsely accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Felix met them in prison and fell in love with Safie, and the Turk offered him his daughter’s hand in marriage in exchange for freedom. The night before the Turk’s execution, Felix helped him and Safie escape, and they fled to Italy. When the plot was discovered, the De Laceys were jailed for a few months until the government confiscated their wealth and exiled them. After the Turk betrayed Felix by bringing his daughter back with him to Constantinople, Safie escaped and found Felix, which explained her arrival at the cottage.
While foraging for food in the forest, the Monster found an abandoned satchel with three books: John Milton’s Paradise Lost, Plutarch’s Lives of Illustrious Greeks and Romans, and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s The Sorrows of Werter.[19] He taught himself to read from the books. He is especially moved by Paradise Lost, even comparing himself to Satan because he didn’t have a social connection to humanity. He also discovered Victor's notes in his clothes, which describe how he created the Monster and later became disgusted by it. The Monster started to hate Victor for abandoning him to fend for himself without his care and protection.
The De Laceys have been happy since Safie came to live with them. The Monster then decided that if he revealed himself and told them his backstory, they may sympathize with him and become their friend. He prepared his introduction for many months, and when the adults go out for a walk, and the father is alone, he saw this as his chance to talk to the father, who is blind but will still understand him. He went inside and spoke to the father, who listened to him and expressed his sympathy. The conversation went well until the Monster heard the adults returning and begged the father to befriend him, as he had been secretly watching them for nearly a year. Felix, Agatha and Safie walk in and recoil in horror at the sight of the Monster. Safie fled, Agatha fainted, and Felix beat the Monster until he ran out and hid in his hovel.
Later that night, the Monster retreated into the forest, infuriated that the De Laceys have rejected him.[20] He declared war on humans, but at dawn, he calmed down and decided to try again. But when he arrived at the cottage, it is empty, and he overheard Felix negotiating with the landlord and giving up the lease. The De Laceys have moved out of the cottage, and the Monster never sees them again. He is overwhelmed with anger that he has been rejected twice, and his last link to society has been broken, so he burned down the cottage and travelled to Geneva to find Victor. Along the way, he rescued a young girl from drowning, but the girl's guardian shot him in the shoulder. When he reached Geneva, he found a beautiful young boy and thinks he could use the boy as his personal guide, as he's too innocent to be terrified of his appearance. But when he grabbed the boy, he becomes scared and mentions his father's name is Frankenstein. Realizing that he belonged to his creator, the Monster strangled him to death, and on the boy's body, he finds a locket. He then found a girl sleeping in a barn and decided to frame her for murder by placing the locket on her. After finishing his story, the Monster urged Victor to make him a female mate.
Victor refused to make him a female companion, and the Monster said he just wants to reason with him and will only be happy if he has a companion just as ugly as he is.[21] If Victor did consent and made him a mate, the Monster and his companion will disappear from humans forever and find seclusion in South America. Otherwise, he will destroy humanity. Victor isn't convinced as he feared the Monster and his companion will cause chaos to humanity and reflected on everything he has said. But since he didn’t want to be responsible for hundreds of deaths, he gave in and made the Monster swear an oath to leave him for good once his companion is completed. The Monster promises and says he will monitor his progress before he leaves him.
For many weeks, Victor has been bewildered about how he will create a female monster and procrastinated his task.[22] After researching an English philosopher, he planned to travel to England for more information. Alphonse becomes concerned for his son's well-being and hopes Victor and Elizabeth will marry and bring their family together. Victor expresses his love for Elizabeth and looks forward to their marriage, and Alphonse convinces him he should marry her right away. However, Victor worries that will affect his promise to make the Monster his mate and wants to make an excuse to delay the wedding, as he wants to get this task done quickly and be relieved from the Monster's presence. He asks his father's permission to travel to England, and his journey might take several months or a year. Alphonse agrees but consults with Elizabeth that Victor shouldn't go alone and needs a companion for his safety. They decide that Clerval should go with him, which relieves Victor as he will be safe from the Monster when his friend accompanies him. After the trip has been set, he promises Elizabeth they will be married as soon as he returns. But he still worries for his family's safety as they would be vulnerable to the Monster's wrath. In late September, Victor left Switzerland and met Clerval in Strasbourg. They travel up the Rhine River and sail to England, arriving in London in early December. Throughout the journey, Victor is unaware that the Monster has secretly followed him since he left Geneva.
Victor and Clerval stay in London for several months, where Victor wants to obtain information from the locals about building a female monster.[23] A friend invited them to Perth, Scotland, so they leave London in late March. Victor was determined to work on his task alone in the Scottish Highlands. Once they arrive in Perth, Victor convinces Clerval they should part ways. Now on his own, Victor travelled to the Orkney Islands and finds an empty hut in a remote area. He sets up his laboratory and starts building the female monster, all while filled with anxiety about the Monster's arrival when the project is complete.
One night, Victor sits in his laboratory and imagines what will happen if the female monster is brought to life.[24] He fears the female monster won't get along with her mate and refuses to live in isolation with him. However, he fears the two monsters will produce offspring he calls a "race of devils." He sees the Monster smiling at him through the window, and Victor becomes so disgusted that he destroys the unfinished monster by ripping it apart. The Monster howls in grief and leaves. Victor locks the laboratory and retreats to his room, where the Monster later barges in and angrily confronts him for breaking his promise. Victor refuses to take orders from him and vows never to make another monster again. The Monster declares that he is his master now and vows revenge. Before he leaves, he warns Victor that he will be with him on his wedding night. Victor worries that the Monster plans to kill him after he marries Elizabeth.
Later, Victor cleans out the laboratory, gathers the remains of the female monster, sails out into the sea, and disposes of the remains in the water. He then falls asleep in the boat, but when he wakes up, it's almost sunrise. The waters are so rough he cannot return to shore. He becomes overjoyed when he sees land, but when he arrives ashore, the locals are suspicious and hostile to him. He realizes he has landed in Ireland, and the locals take him to the local magistrate, Mr. Kirkwin.
Victor meets Mr. Kirkwin, and several witnesses claim that the body of a young man was washed ashore the previous night. They suspect Victor as his boat was seen a distance away from where the body was found.[25] Mr. Kirkwin wants to show Victor the body to figure out if he's guilty. But when he is shown the body, Victor is horrified that it's Clerval, with black markings on his neck. Victor suffers from convulsions and develops a fever for two months. He is kept inside a prison cell, where Mr. Kirkwin treats him kindly, along with a turnkey's wife who becomes his nurse. One day, Mr. Kirkwin visits him and knows he has been falsely accused of Clerval's murder. He even finds his letters from Alphonse and writes to him about his son. He then informs him that a visitor has arrived to see him. Victor fears it's the Monster, but it is his father, Alphonse. Following a brief trial, Victor is acquitted, as there is a lack of evidence that he killed Clerval.
Victor is still filled with trauma from Clerval's death and his imprisonment. However, he's overjoyed he will be with his family again and vows to kill the Monster whenever possible. Alphonse delays the journey home as it would affect Victor's health, but he insists they leave Ireland immediately. During the journey, he suffers from nightmares about the Monster strangling him.
Halfway on their journey to Geneva, Victor and Alphonse stay in Paris so he can fully regain his strength.[26] At one point, Victor confessed to his father that he's responsible for the deaths of William, Justine and Clerval, but Alphonse doesn't believe him and thinks he's insane. A few days before leaving Paris, Victor receives a letter from Elizabeth. She expresses her concern about his long absence and worries that he has fallen in love with someone else. But she reminds him that she still loves him and looks forward to their wedding. Victor writes back, saying he wants to be married immediately, but warns her he has a terrible secret to tell her later. He will also take the risk of killing the Monster if he plans to destroy him so he will finally be free. He arrives home, where he becomes despondent and violent from rage while Elizabeth cares for him. He tells Alphonse to have the wedding date set within ten days and pretends to be cheerful to please Alphonse and Elizabeth. Alphonse then discovers that Elizabeth has received a small fortune from the Austrian government at Lake Como and arranges for the couple to spend their honeymoon there after the wedding. Meanwhile, Victor arms himself with pistols and a knife and is always on the lookout for the Monster.
Ten days later, Victor and Elizabeth are married. After the wedding, they plan to spend the night in Evian before going further to Lake Como. The couple travel by boat to their destination. He is constantly paranoid, and she convinces him to enjoy nature around him. He is also unaware that this will be the last happy day in his life.
It is evening, and a heavy rainstorm approaches when Victor and Elizabeth arrive at Evian and walk to their inn.[27] He urges her to retire to their room, and while he paces around looking out for the Monster, he hears Elizabeth scream and realizes the Monster has planned to kill her instead of him. When he hears her scream again, he rushes to her room, where he finds her lifeless body, and he faints. When he wakes up, he sees that Elizabeth is dead with strangulation marks on her neck. He spots the Monster outside grinning menacingly at him, and Victor shoots him with his gun, but he misses, and the Monster quickly escapes. Everyone in the inn searches for the killer, but Victor is too weak and devastated to join them and grieves over Elizabeth's body. He then worries for his family’s lives, so he immediately hurries home. Alphonse becomes grief-stricken from Elizabeth's death and died a few days later from a broken heart.
Victor becomes insane again and is confined in a solitary cell for months. When he regains his senses, he visits the magistrate and tells his whole story about the Monster killing his family and friends, and he wants the Monster to be stopped. The magistrate listens but thinks hunting down the Monster is impossible and may be difficult to figure out where he is now. Victor then vows to dedicate his entire life to pursuing the Monster and destroying it for good.
Victor decided to leave Geneva forever, as he finds his home a place full of hatred and bad memories.[28] He gathered some money and his mother's jewels before departing. Along the way, he is unsure how he will pursue his path and visits the graves of Alphonse, Elizabeth and William. He vows his family that he will extract his revenge and destroy the Monster at all costs. He hears the Monster's evil laughter and says he's satisfied he wants to hunt him. Victor chases after him, but he quickly vanishes.
For many months, Victor pursues the Monster across the globe, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Tartary Region. The Monster often leaves behind taunting messages about his whereabouts. In Russia, Victor finds a message from the Monster, hinting that he has fled to the Arctic and urging him to stock up on food and thick clothing if he still wants to hunt him. He keeps going northward, where the weather and environment become freezing cold and hostile. In a small village near the seashore, Victor learns that the Monster has stolen some food and a dogsled to ride across the sea. He knows he won't be able to survive in the harsh environment of the Arctic but decides to press on anyway. He obtains a dog sled and chases the Monster to the Arctic Circle. Just when he finally catches up with the Monster, the ice between them breaks, leaving him stranded and suffering from fatigue and exposure as his dogs start dying, where Walton and his crew find him. He even told Walton he wanted a boat to pursue the Monster further, but he was brought aboard when the ship was going northward.
After he finishes his story, Victor laments if he should finally complete his task of finding the Monster or if he should die and allow the Monster to live. He begs Walton that if he dies, he must find the Monster for him, destroy him, and never let him escape again.
Walton Gives Up/Leaving the Arctic[]
In a letter dated August 26th, Walton asks Margaret if she has shuddered with horror from reading his letters about Victor's story.[29] He writes that Victor would suddenly feel anguished or unable to keep telling his tale. He would speak calmly about the horrible incidents in his life and become furious when he cursed the Monster. Walton says that Victor’s connected story to the Monster’s tale is true, as Victor showed him letters from Felix and Safie, and he thought he saw an apparition of the Monster aboard the ship, leaving Walton shocked that the Monster is real. Victor hopes that with his letters arranged, his story will be preserved. At one point, Walton asks Victor how he created the Monster, but Victor refuses to tell him.
A week has passed since Victor told Walton his story. Walton has become so absorbed in Victor’s tale that he wishes to comfort him, and while Victor accepts his loving care, he will only find joy in death. Walton recalls to Margaret that Victor didn’t just talk about his history but also discussed his knowledge and eloquence of science and literature. Victor then recalls that when he was young, he believed he was destined to do great things, but when he looks back on his life, he realizes he has made a terrible mistake and will be chained in an eternal hell forever. He believes he should have been a civilized human being but chose to create the Monster and then chase it to the ends of the Earth. Walton laments that he longs to have a friend who would cherish and sympathize with him, but his friend refuses to start his life over again. Victor thanks Walton for his hospitality and kindness but laments that nothing can replace Clerval and Elizabeth.
On September 2nd, Walton writes to Margaret that his ship is surrounded by thick patches of ice, and he fears he may never return home. His crew looks to him for help, but Walton says that while he still has his courage and hope, he can’t do anything to help his crew and would blame himself if they all die. He tells Margaret that she may never see him again, but she will have her husband and children to love and cherish. He also has Victor to keep him motivated, and his crew is moved by Victor’s eloquence. A few days later, Walton writes that he has finally given up and will sail the ship out of the Arctic, feeling distraught and ashamed that he is forced to abandon his ambition.
Before long, the ice separates and breaks apart. Walton becomes concerned about Victor, whose health starts deteriorating and is confined to bed. When the route towards the south becomes clear and visible for the ship to sail, the crew rejoice. Victor awakens and asks what everyone is cheering about. Walton replies that they are overjoyed that they will be leaving the Arctic. Victor asks if he will return to England, and Walton says he has consented as he cannot risk himself endangering the lives of his crew. Victor says that he has grown weaker and he may be dying. He tries to get up, but falls back and faints. When he regains consciousness, he has trouble breathing and unable to speak. A doctor treats him and orders everyone not to disturb him. He informs Walton that Victor has only a few hours left to live.
As the ship heads southward, Walton sits by Victor’s side, who awakens and says in a weak tone that he is dying but the Monster is still free, which makes him filled with hatred and revenge. He recalls that he should have provided the Monster some happiness and well-being, but believes he has failed his fellow humans by refusing to make the Monster’s female mate. As a result, the Monster killed his family and friends, vowing destruction on humanity. Victor thinks he’ll be justified in the Monster’s wrath, but realizes he has failed to carry out his plan. Once again, he urges Walton to fulfill his unfinished task and destroy the Monster, and hopes he might meet him on his journey home. He wishes Walton happiness and begs him to avoid ambition, while his voice becomes more faint. Afterwards, he becomes silent and dies half an hour later.
Walton is grief-stricken from Victor’s death, but sometime later, while he stands on the deck at midnight, he hears a hoarse voice coming from inside the cabin where Victor’s body lay. Walton enters the cabin, where he finds the Monster grieving over his creator’s body. When he sees Walton, he rushes to the window, but Walton tells him to stay, remembering his task to fulfill. The Monster looks at Walton and then at Victor, saying that his creator was his victim, and with his death his crimes has come to an end. He weeps over the body, begging for his forgiveness, and Walton becomes curious, but doesn’t dare to look at the Monster’s hideous face. He tells the Monster that his repentance is worthless, and if he expressed remorse and morality before he carried out his revenge, Victor would have still been alive.
The Monster points to Victor’s body and says that he had been selfish and never suffered from anguish, while the Monster was filled with remorse and grief, especially when he was meant to feel love and sympathy, but instead endured torment and revenge. He became remorseful from killing Clerval and returned to Switzerland, sympathizing with Victor and expressing shame on himself. But when he discovered that Victor hoped to find happiness and bringing more misery to the Monster, he decided that killing his bride was his only option. Again, murdering Elizabeth filled him with despair and evil, and had no choice but to adapt to his new nature. He declares that his creator is his final victim, and now his monstrosity has ended.
Walton is initially moved by the Monster’s suffering, but remembers what Victor said about the Monster being eloquent. He chastises him for coming here to grieve over the destruction he has caused. He even points out that when he burns buildings down, he then stands on the ruins and laments what he has done. If Victor still lived, he would have still been a victim to the Monster’s vengeance, and the only reason for his grief is because Victor has been withdrawn from his power. The Monster interrupts him and says he won’t find any sympathy because he couldn’t have love, virtue and affection. He has been condemned to suffer alone, and when he dies, he will be relieved from his loneliness and hatred. He hoped that he would meet some friends who would love and devote him, but finds himself hating injustice after Felix and his family rejected him. He admits to killing the innocent and vowing revenge on his creator. Now that Victor is dead, the Monster plans to end his own life by building himself a funeral pyre, set himself on fire, and his ashes would be swept away in the waters. After bidding farewell to Victor and Walton, he leaps from the cabin window, and Walton watches as the Monster lands on a ice raft close to the ship and disappears in the darkness.
Personality/Appearance[]
Robert Walton is an ambitious Englishman who is determined to leave his simple life behind in England and go on an adventure to the North Pole and make some scientific discoveries, as his childhood dream was to travel the seas around the Arctic on a voyage. Having never received a proper education, he self-educated himself with books about voyages, and when he failed to pursue a different path as a poet, he ended up giving his longtime ambition a chance. By doing so, he is about to set foot in a hostile, dangerous environment and knows he might not survive the expedition, so he would sometimes warn his sister, Margaret Saville, that she might never see him again as he isn’t sure if he’ll ever return home alive. Despite this, he thinks that he will make an achievement for humankind by accomplishing an ambition that someone hasn’t done before, and is determined enough to push the limits to prove he’s capable of achieving something risky and make his mark in history. However, he comes off as being arrogant as he wants respect and praise for completing his ambitions, even if it means taking his crew into dangerous, life-threatening living conditions. He is optimistic that everything will go according to plan upon arriving in the Arctic, with his men in good spirits and the weather decent, unaware of what will be in store for him.
Walton becomes lonely during his expedition, and he communicates to Margaret through letters as a way to resolve his loneliness. Deep down, he still urges himself to keep going and craves a friend who will support him and motivate him in achieving his goals. Additionally, he wants to befriend someone who is another version of himself. When he meets Victor after rescuing him, he becomes fascinated of him by his similarity and it changes any past friendships he had. He dotingly cares for Victor and feels grateful he finally has a friend, but doesn’t know that Victor had lost everything after his ambition went horribly wrong, and hopes his story would make Walton abandon his ambition and prevent him from making the same mistake. He is curious about Victor’s backstory, and is fascinated what he hears. Unfortunately, his friendship with Victor is short lived as he approaches the end of his life and the ship becomes entrapped by thick ice. Walton still wants to carry on with the expedition, even if it means endangering the lives of the dying Victor and the crew. He hardly does anything to help out everyone whose struggling on board, and blames himself for their suffering. He becomes concerned for Victor’s declining health whose final wish is for Walton to kill the Monster and not allow him to get away. Ultimately, Walton gives up and turns the ship around, feeling distraught and defeated for not achieving his goal and from losing Victor. Like Victor and all of humanity, he prejudices the Monster and condemns him for ruining his creator’s life, even though the Monster has faced a life of bitterness and loss of innocence, and is ready to end his life.
Relationships[]
Margaret Saville[]
Walton's sister, who lives in England. Throughout the majority of the novel, he writes letters to her describing his adventure as well as the story of Victor Frankenstein and even the Monster's tale. He often expresses his loneliness to Margaret and even sympathizes with Victor's suffering.
Victor Frankenstein[]
A young, Swiss scientist who Walton saves while attempting to explore the Arctic. He looks after him onboard and listens to his whole story, convincing the captain to choose to put his own life at risk or give up his task. He even becomes friends with Victor, but is grief-stricken after he dies. However, Victor’s story urges him to give up his expedition and leave the Arctic.
The Monster[]
The hideous creature Walton's friend Victor discusses in his story. The captain doesn't meet the Monster until the end, where he finds him mourning over his creator's body. He had been racked with suffering, loneliness and evil throughout his life before he planned to end his life abruptly.
Quotes/Relatable Quotes[]
"You cannot contest the inestimable benefit I shall confer on all mankind." ― Letter 1
Walton hopes he will benefit mankind with his ambitions and goals to travel the Arctic.
"My life might have been passed in ease and luxury, but I preferred glory to every enticement that wealth placed in my path." ― Letter 1
Walton expresses his motivation and ambition for his voyage on discovering the North Pole.
"What may not be expected in a country of eternal light?" ― Letter 1
Walton explains his quest to find new ideas and discoveries in the Arctic, that he refers to as a “country of eternal light”.
"I bitterly feel the want of a friend." ― Letter 2
Walton longs for a friend and companion.
"I cannot lead them unwillingly to danger, and I must return." ― Walton, in Continuation
Knowing he’s endangering the lives of his crew, Walton has no choice but to abandon the expedition and leave the Arctic.
Portrayals[]
In the 1973 film adaptation, Frankenstein: The True Story, Walton is portrayed by Tom Baker.
In the 1994 film adaptation, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Walton is portrayed by Aidan Quinn.
In the 2004 TV miniseries, Walton is portrayed by Donald Sutherland.
References[]
- ↑ Letter 1
- ↑ Letter 2
- ↑ Letter 3
- ↑ Letter 4
- ↑ Chapter 1
- ↑ Chapter 2
- ↑ Chapter 3
- ↑ Chapter 4
- ↑ Chapter 5
- ↑ Chapter 6
- ↑ Chapter 7
- ↑ Chapter 8
- ↑ Chapter 9
- ↑ Chapter 10
- ↑ Chapter 11
- ↑ Chapter 12
- ↑ Chapter 13
- ↑ Chapter 14
- ↑ Chapter 15
- ↑ Chapter 16
- ↑ Chapter 17
- ↑ Chapter 18
- ↑ Chapter 19
- ↑ Chapter 20
- ↑ Chapter 21
- ↑ Chapter 22
- ↑ Chapter 23
- ↑ Chapter 24
- ↑ Walton, in Continuation