While Robert Walton frames Victor's narrative in his letters to his sister, I believe he more effectively serves as a foil for Victor relentless passions. Victor's pursuit of knowledge within the field of natural philosophy was rooted in his inadvertent discovery of a volume of Cornelius' Agrippa's works (68). Once removed from such aged models, instead of abandoning his passions, Victor's dedicates himself to the mastery of modern science. Where such masters "penetrate into the recesses of nature, and shew how she works in her hiding places" (75). Similarly, Robert has a passion for the unknown and enterprises to sail north in hopes of finding uncharted "phaenomena...in those undiscovered solitudes" (51). Robert's role as Victor's foil plays out in his ability to move past his dream, when his passion is tempered at the behest of his crew "they desired...that if the vessel should be freed, I would instantly direct my course southward" (213). Ultimately despite Victor's speech, Robert cannot rationalize a continuation of the mission with an uninspired crew. Of the many opportunities presented, Victor clearly fulfilled his passion and is plagued by it for the remainder of the story. He recognizes in hindsight that he was consumed by "the wild fancies of these writers" in reference to the dated writings of Agrippa, Paracelsus, and Albertus (69). Robert's own narration holds Victor's story and personage in awe, recognizing "what a glorious creature he must have been in his days of prosperity" (210). If the same holds true to Robert, being Victor's foil, the mission north is in the midst of his "prosperity" as Victor's was in his pursuit of the secret of life. But Robert himself is held back by his weak-willed crew. I see Robert as feeling a similar responsibility to protecting his crew as Victor did to protecting his family. When the two are put in conflict, especially in the face of severe adversity, Robert folds where Victor went on in ignorance of his family for two years while he dedicated himself to his studies. I would like to hypothesize that this was due to his isolation from his family, "out of sight out of mind", and raise the question would Robert follow the same path if he wasn't reliant upon his crew to which he has a responsibility to protect?
I think that Robert would continue his voyage if there were no crew to hold him back. He spent 6 years working to get to that point, and it seems that he is extremely passionate. However he is a more sympathetic, and human character than Victor. Robert tries to keep in touch with his sister through the letters, and is not passionate to the point of blindness like Victor was. Also, Robert is greatly aware of how lonely he is - something Victor was not preoccupied with while working on the creature. While Robert seems to be more real than Victor, without the crew holding him back, he would continue on with his dream.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Morgan’s question, I believe Robert would pursue his quest for knowledge (likely leading his crew to their death) if not for the threat of mutiny. In the beginning of the book, before hearing Frankenstein’s story, Robert has spent six years preparing for a voyage to gain an “inestimable benefit which I shall confer on all mankind to the last generation” (52), such as the discovery of a new route to Asia or the cause of the magnetic north. After hearing Frankenstein’s story he still lusts for knowledge and “endeavored to gain from Frankenstein the particulars of his creature’s formation” (209). Though Frankenstein refuses to divulge this knowledge and warns Henry against seeking dangerous knowledge, he later reverses his opinion, calling on the crew to continue to support Henry’s dangerous passage north and telling Henry that while he may have failed to gain happiness through science, “yet another may succeed” (216). Lacking any internal motivation and in light of Frankenstein’s ambivalence regarding Henry’s journey, Henry would likely have continued in his quest if not for the immediate threat of mutiny by his crew.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if Walton would continue his expedition if his crew was not there. It certainly is an idea to ponder, however, the crew is there and they are causing him to reconsider. Walton does pose as an interesting foil to Victor, whether this is because he is more sympathetic and works to establish contact with his sister as Anker states or something else. Morgan nicely posed Victor's ignorance of his family as "out of sight, out of mind" and the fact of the matter is that Walton was not as isolated as Victor. Indeed they are both passionate, but Victor went off to school and by throwing himself into his passion lost touch with his family. Walton, on the other hand, has gone off with a group, even if they are not family, of people that he feels some responsibility too. The journey would be dangerous, and although it can be viewed just as an immediate threat of mutiny, perhaps Walton saw the opportunity to take responsibility for his crew and ultimately took Victor's last words to heart: "seek happiness in tranquility, and avoid ambition, even if it be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in science and discoveries"(216).
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Lachlan on the point that Robert would drag his crew into danger. While he (in all likelihood) would never have thought of turning back without had his crew not suggested it rather forcefully to him, once they do he immediately understands their predicament, for how "could [he], in justice, or even in possibility, refuse [their] demand?" (213) Although it is forced, his strong sense of justice would, in my opinion, keep him from taking his crew somewhere against their will. However, I would agree that the two serve as foils. They are very similar in temperament and in pursuits. Robert's admission to a childhood that was less academic than it might have been dovetails neatly into Victor's more esoteric pursuits in his own younger years. There are differeces as well though - Victor allowed his passion to consume his entire life, as well as his loved ones, wheras Robert has not lost contact with his own family and sense of place in the world. Perhaps Robert will take Victor's advice to heart, but it would only reinforce the superior habits he already posesses.
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