Frankenstein 3

Frankenstein
Mary Shelley

Characterization plays an important role in the story of Frankenstein.  We first get a glimpse of Walton's life in the letters he writes to his sister back in England.  He had studied and read many books on travelling, and he finally was ready to set sail and discover in the North Pole.  He planned to "satiate my [his] ardent curiosity" (Shelley, page 1), but he had to leave his family back home in the process.  He also admits to his sister that he has no friends and is lonely, and he wants someone to support him in his endeavors.  Through the letters, we learn that Walton's crew picked up a stranger [Frankenstein], and these two men get along well because of their common interest in knowledge and exploration.
      Frankenstein is more easily characterized because he is purposely describing himself and his story to Walton.  As a child, Frankenstein realized his love for the natural sciences and studied them copiously during his teen years and in college.  He also is interested in his sister and loved her very much, though he did chose to leave her behind.  When his mother passed away, he began entertaining thoughts of outing death so that people would not have to be mournful.  While this thought led to his eventual demise, it is one of his fundamental characteristics.