Essential Question 9

Both Victor Frankenstein and Robert Walton had a thirst for knowledge that can be best described as insatiable. They are restless beings because they always want to know more: from philosophy, to the sciences and mathematics. Walton chooses a life on the sea as he plans a “voyage of discovery towards the northern pole"(9), to set foot on new land and experience new things. Walton deeply wanted a friend who would share in his discoveries and challenge him as a fellow scholar. Frankenstein focuses on natural philosophy, which sparked his ambition on the line between life and death. His ambitions lead him to create a monster that can no longer be anything close to human. It utterly dumbfounded him and repulsed him to a point where talking about the subject of science is too painful to bear. Frankenstein has more experience of the two and he tells Walton to heed his advice. Frankenstein sees in Walton’s eyes the same ambition he once had and does not want it become extinguished as his once were.