Zachary Begland

Wilkinson

Period 4th

5/27/14

 

How Far Is Too Far:

Walton’s pursuit of knowledge and his ultimate decision

        Knowledge and the acquisition of it affects the characters in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein profoundly either directly such as Walton or Victor attempting to triumph over nature but also inadvertently, for instance Elizabeth, Henry, and the entire crew of Walton’s expedition. The exploration for newfound scientific discoveries and facts not only facilitates the events occurring to Victor but also determine the course of Walton’s life and purpose.  Walton begins his journey in the same manner as Victor, with an insatiable need for scientific discovery, but after listening and recording Victor’s tale of despair and destruction, he ultimately yields his pursuit of knowledge to save the lives of his crew and himself, despite his desire to explore the unknown regardless of personal cost.

        Beginning with Walton discussing his plans to explore the North Pole and beyond in what he determines is an adventure of incalculable worth. He views that this quest for new knowledge may yield fantastic results concerning scientific inquiry “Its productions and features may be without example, as the phenomena of a heavenly bodies undoubtedly are in those undiscovered solitudes…I may there discover the wondrous power which attracts the needle and may regulate a thousand celestial observations.” (Shelley 3) He attempts to uncover knowledge hidden away by the Earth and nature, such as the power of magnetism and laws about orbits and space. Quite contrary to the Romantic period, Walton seeks new knowledge on how to control nature in an almost frenzied manner. In this state of mind, he is extraordinarily similar to Victor who also seeks “to penetrate the secrets of nature…with a fervent longing” (Shelley 34) Before Victor endures the creature’s wrath and Walton encounters the frozen abyss, both men are intensely driven by this almost lust for knowledge. But unlike Victor, Walton realizes and understands the reality of his situations, “I am too ardent in execution and too impatient in difficulties.” (Shelley 7) Walton manages to ascertain his own characteristics, his own nature, finding the negative aspects of his life, and trying to find ways to combat them. “It is true that I have thought more and that my daydreams are more extended and magnificent, but…I greatly need a friend who would have…affection enough for me to endeavor to regulate my mind.” (Shelley 8) Walton still dreams about grandeur through his scientific exploits, but seeks regulation in order to keep his own ambitions in check. Eventually, however, he starts his expedition without a friend to guide him, and pushes on with great force to succeed in his endeavor despite the dangerous nature of this pursuit.

        After Walton listens, understands, and records Victor’s story about the creature and the destruction of his friends and family, Victor asks Walton to learn from his mistakes such as creating the abomination and confronting the natural order of things. “Learn my miseries and do not seek to increase your own.” (Shelley 256) Walton too is endeavoring to surpass the sublimity of nature, and for a moment considers the horror of Victor’s tale, seeing how he was “in the days of his prosperity, when he is thus noble and godlike in ruin!” Robert Walton learns the destructive tendencies an abundance of knowledge can bring, finally having a friend who is willing to discuss with him the extent of knowledge, and presenting direct examples of its overuse and decay. Finally Walton comes to a crossroads, torn between a convergence and resurgence of knowledge he has not encountered until Victor and the rational ideas presented about learning from the past and not seeking to overstretch the limitations on what man can comprehend.

Ultimately Walton must choose, just as Victor did, between knowledge and safety. While remaining trapped in a tundra of ice and snow, Walton along with Victor and crew, weighs his options, prompted by most to turn back and escape his death, but Robert feels that even his own life is worth the cost of triumphing over nature. “For this was a glorious, for this was it an honourable undertaking. You are hereafter to be hailed as the benefactors of your species, your names adored as belongings to brave men who encountered death for...the benefit of mankind.” (Shelley 262) Even after all the troubles, hardships, tales of despair, Robert and Victor still feel this undefined necessity to gloriously go where no man has gone before. At the very end however, Walton does something Victor could never truly do; he gives up his quest for knowledge. “The die is cast; I have consented to return if we are not destroyed. Thus…I come back ignorant and disappointed…Do you, then, really return?” “Alas! Yes; I cannot withstand their demands. I cannot lead them unwillingly to danger, and I must return.” (Shelley 263) He truly undertakes his actions, and while still extremely upset at the weak nature of his crew and end to his marvelous campaign, he accepts the reality. This reveals the stance on knowledge present in Frankenstein. In order for the advancement of knowledge to not end in destruction and damaging change, the individual pursuing the unknown must be able to undertake their own actions and realize the reality in which they inhabit, something Victor could never achieve, but Walton eventually came to accept.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​