Article #84-2 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from Frankenstein; or, the modern prometheus, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

St. Petersburgh, Dec. 11th, 17—.

You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the
commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil
forebodings. I arrived here yesterday, and my first task is to assure
my dear sister of my welfare and increasing confidence in the success
of my undertaking.

I am already far north of London, and as I walk in the streets of
Petersburgh, I feel a cold northern breeze play upon my cheeks, which
braces my nerves and fills me with delight. Do you understand this
feeling? This breeze, which has travelled from the regions towards
which I am advancing, gives me a foretaste of those icy climes.
Inspirited by this wind of promise, my daydreams become more fervent
and vivid. 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. There, Margaret, the sun is for ever
visible, its broad disk just skirting the horizon and diffusing a
perpetual splendour. There—for with your leave, my sister, I will put
some trust in preceding navigators—there snow and frost are banished;
and, sailing over a calm sea, we may be wafted to a land surpassing in
wonders and in beauty every region hitherto discovered on the habitable
globe. Its productions and features may be without example, as the
phenomena of the heavenly bodies undoubtedly are in those undiscovered
solitudes. What may not be expected in a country of eternal light? I
may there discover the wondrous power which attracts the needle and may
regulate a thousand celestial observations that require only this
voyage to render their seeming eccentricities consistent for ever. I
shall satiate my ardent curiosity with the sight of a part of the world
never before visited, and may tread a land never before imprinted by
the foot of man. These are my enticements, and they are sufficient to
conquer all fear of danger or death and to induce me to commence this
laborious voyage with the joy a child feels when he embarks in a little
boat, with his holiday mates, on an expedition of discovery up his
native river. But supposing all these conjectures to be false, you
cannot contest the inestimable benefit which I shall confer on all
mankind, to the last generation, by discovering a passage near the pole
to those countries, to reach which at present so many months are
requisite; or by ascertaining the secret of the magnet, which, if at
all possible, can only be effected by an undertaking such as mine.

Explanation

This excerpt is the opening of Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818) by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, framed as a letter from the explorer Robert Walton to his sister, Margaret Saville. Though often overshadowed by Victor Frankenstein’s narrative, Walton’s letters serve as a framing device, introducing key themes of ambition, isolation, and the dangers of unchecked scientific and exploratory zeal. Below is a detailed breakdown of the passage, focusing on its language, themes, literary devices, and significance within the novel.

Context of the Excerpt

Epistolary Form: The novel begins with Walton’s letters, establishing a layered narrative structure (Walton → Frankenstein → the Creature). This distances the reader from the events while adding authenticity and psychological depth.
Historical Context: The early 19th century was an era of scientific exploration (e.g., Arctic expeditions) and Romantic idealism, which celebrated nature’s sublime power and human ambition. Shelley critiques this hubris through Walton and Frankenstein.
Walton’s Role: He mirrors Victor Frankenstein—both are obsessive, isolated men pursuing glory at great personal cost. His letters foreshadow Victor’s downfall and the novel’s warnings about overreaching ambition.

Themes in the Excerpt

Ambition and Hubris
- Walton’s language is triumphant and defiant, dismissing his sister’s "evil forebodings" with confidence in his "success." His ambition is framed as noble (discovering a polar passage, advancing science) but also reckless—he admits his "daydreams" are "fervent and vivid," suggesting delusion.
- Key Line: "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."
  - His refusal to accept reality (the Arctic is deadly) parallels Victor’s refusal to see the consequences of his actions. Both men romanticize their goals while ignoring warnings.
The Sublime and Nature’s Duality
- The cold northern breeze is both invigorating ("braces my nerves and fills me with delight") and ominous (a "wind of promise" that lures him toward danger). This reflects the Romantic sublime: nature as both awe-inspiring and terrifying.
- Walton’s idealized vision of the Arctic ("eternal light," "perpetual splendour") contrasts with the harsh reality (frost, desolation). Shelley critiques the Romantic obsession with the unknown, showing how it blinds men to risk.
Isolation and Alienation
- Walton is physically and emotionally isolated—writing to his sister from a distant, hostile land. His childlike excitement ("the joy a child feels") underscores his naivety and loneliness.
- The Arctic symbolizes extreme solitude, a theme that recurs with Victor (abandoning society) and the Creature (rejected by all). Walton’s voyage is a metaphor for human alienation in the pursuit of knowledge.
Scientific and Exploratory Zeal
- Walton justifies his voyage with utilitarian goals (finding a trade route, solving the mystery of the magnet) and personal glory ("I may tread a land never before imprinted by the foot of man").
- His rationalizations ("you cannot contest the inestimable benefit") echo Enlightenment optimism, but Shelley questions whether such pursuits are ethically justified. The novel ultimately suggests that unchecked ambition leads to destruction.
Foreshadowing
- Walton’s overconfidence ("no disaster has accompanied the commencement") is ironic—his later letters reveal his ship trapped in ice, his crew mutinous, and his life in danger.
- His desire for discovery mirrors Victor’s obsession with creating life, both leading to tragedy. The Arctic becomes a symbol of humanity’s limits.

Literary Devices

Imagery
- Sensory Imagery: The "cold northern breeze" and "broad disk" of the sun create a vivid, almost hallucinatory picture of the Arctic. The contrast between ice and light reinforces the duality of beauty and danger.
- Hyperbolic Visions: Walton’s descriptions ("land surpassing in wonders and in beauty every region hitherto discovered") are exaggerated, revealing his unrealistic expectations.
Personification
- The wind is a harbinger of fate: "this wind of promise" suggests it is active, almost supernatural, luring him forward.
Juxtaposition
- Reality vs. Imagination: Walton acknowledges the Arctic’s desolation but rejects it in favor of his fantasy ("I try in vain to be persuaded").
- Childlike Joy vs. Lethal Seriousness: His comparison to a "child" in a "little boat" is jarring—his expedition is deadly, not a game.
Rhetorical Questions
- "Do you understand this feeling?" → Isolates Margaret (and the reader), emphasizing that Walton’s obsession is incomprehensible to ordinary people.
- "What may not be expected in a country of eternal light?" → Inflates his hopes, but also hints at the unknown horrors he may encounter.
Irony
- Dramatic Irony: Walton believes his voyage will be glorious, but the reader (especially on a reread) knows it will end in failure.
- Situational Irony: His claim that he will "confer on all mankind" benefits is undermined by the novel’s events—his ambition, like Victor’s, harms more than it helps.
Allusion
- Magnetic North: The "wondrous power which attracts the needle" symbolizes fate and obsession—Walton (like Victor) is drawn inexorably toward destruction.
- Edenic Language: The Arctic as a "land surpassing in wonders" evokes the Garden of Eden, but unlike Eden, it is barren and deadly—a false paradise.

Significance of the Passage

Introduces the Novel’s Central Conflict
- Walton’s letter sets up the tension between ambition and consequence, a theme that defines Victor and the Creature. His defiance of warnings mirrors Victor’s rejection of ethical boundaries.
Establishes the Framing Narrative
- Walton’s story encloses Victor’s, creating a mirror effect. Both men are storytellers and cautionary tales, showing how obsession corrupts.
Critique of Romanticism and Enlightenment
- Shelley challenges the Romantic glorification of nature and exploration. Walton’s blind optimism is a warning about the dangers of idealism.
- The Arctic, in reality, was a site of suffering for explorers (e.g., the doomed Franklin expedition). Shelley’s portrayal exposes the myth of the heroic explorer.
Psychological Depth
- Walton’s loneliness and desperation for purpose humanize him. His need for validation (writing to Margaret) reveals the emotional cost of ambition.
Foreshadows Victor’s Story
- Like Victor, Walton pursues knowledge at all costs, ignores warnings, and ends up isolated. His letters prepare the reader for Victor’s similar downfall.

Conclusion: Why This Excerpt Matters

This opening letter is deceptively simple—it appears to be a travelogue, but it is layered with foreboding. Walton’s exuberance is tinged with madness, his dreams are delusions, and his confidence is hubris. Shelley uses his voice to:

Critique the cult of exploration (a Romantic-era obsession).
Introduce the novel’s core themes (ambition, isolation, the sublime).
Create a parallel to Victor Frankenstein, reinforcing the idea that unchecked desire leads to ruin.

The Arctic, in Walton’s mind, is a land of infinite possibility, but the novel will reveal it as a wasteland of ice and death—a metaphor for the emptiness of human ambition. His letter is not just a beginning, but a warning: the first step toward the tragedy that follows.

Questions

Question 1

The passage’s depiction of the Arctic as a "region of beauty and delight" primarily serves to:

A. Contrast Walton’s optimism with the known historical dangers of polar exploration, thereby underscoring his ignorance.
B. Reveal the psychological mechanism by which Walton’s desire distorts his perception of reality, foreshadowing his eventual disillusionment.
C. Emphasize the Romantic era’s celebration of untouched nature as a source of spiritual renewal, aligning Walton with contemporary explorers.
D. Suggest that the Arctic’s true wonders are beyond human comprehension, implying a supernatural dimension to the voyage.
E. Critique the scientific community’s failure to accurately document polar conditions, positioning Walton as a corrective figure.

Question 2

Walton’s rhetorical question—"Do you understand this feeling?"—is most effectively interpreted as:

A. A genuine appeal for emotional validation from his sister, revealing his underlying insecurity.
B. A challenge to the reader’s capacity for imaginative empathy, testing their willingness to engage with his ambition.
C. An assertion of his exceptionalism, implying that his obsession transcends ordinary human experience.
D. A moment of self-doubt, briefly acknowledging the irrationality of his pursuit before suppressing it.
E. A literary device to create narrative intimacy, bridging the distance between epistolary correspondents.

Question 3

The "wind of promise" functions in the passage as a:

A. Metaphor for the irresistible call of destiny, framing Walton’s voyage as fated rather than chosen.
B. Symbol of the Enlightenment’s faith in empirical discovery, with the wind carrying tangible evidence of the Arctic’s secrets.
C. Personification of nature’s benevolence, reassuring Walton that his ambitions are divinely sanctioned.
D. Harbinger of delusion, its sensory immediacy masking the absence of rational justification for his optimism.
E. Ironic counterpoint to the stillness of the Arctic, highlighting the contradiction between Walton’s expectations and reality.

Question 4

Walton’s comparison of his voyage to a "child" embarking on a "little boat" is most thematically significant because it:

A. Undermines his credibility by revealing his immaturity, suggesting his enterprise is frivolous.
B. Humanizes his ambition, framing exploration as an innate and universal impulse.
C. Contrasts the innocence of childhood with the moral corruption of adult pursuits like science.
D. Foreshadows the vulnerability of his crew, who, like children, will be endangered by his recklessness.
E. Exposes the self-deception inherent in his analogy, as his voyage is neither playful nor without consequence.

Question 5

The passage’s structure—moving from Walton’s reassurances to his increasingly grandiose speculations—primarily serves to:

A. Mimic the psychological progression of obsession, where initial confidence spirals into delusional grandeur.
B. Parody the epistolary genre by subverting the expectation of personal intimacy with self-aggrandizing monologue.
C. Reflect the scientific method, beginning with observable phenomena before advancing to theoretical hypotheses.
D. Create dramatic tension by juxtaposing the mundane (a letter to his sister) with the extraordinary (discovering a new world).
E. Illustrate the conflict between public duty (reassuring Margaret) and private desire (pursuing glory at any cost).

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: B

Why B is most correct: The Arctic’s portrayal as a "region of beauty and delight" is not a neutral description but a projection of Walton’s psychological state. His language reveals how desire warps perception: he acknowledges the Arctic’s desolation ("I try in vain to be persuaded") but actively rejects it in favor of a fantasy. This cognitive dissonance foreshadows his later disillusionment when reality intrudes (e.g., his ship trapped in ice). The passage critiques self-deception as a precursor to failure, a theme central to Frankenstein.