The stranger tells Walton, “You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been.” Destructive knowledge is a major theme throughout this novel, as the consequences of the stranger's OBSESSIVE search for understanding are reavealed (and tragic, as we can well guess).
Walton is much like "the stranger" aka Dr. Frankenstein, in that he is entranced by the opportunity to find out what secrets no one else knows about that nature has to offer. “What may not be expected in a country of eternal light?” he asks.
Walton asks this question in the very first letter to his sister that we read, which epitomizes (yes! I can use that word!) a developing symbol...light=knowledge (or discovery, I suppose)....(help me out here)......?
Walton’s quest to reach the northernmost part of the earth is similar in spirit to Victor’s quest for the secret of life: both seek ultimate knowledge, and both sacrifice the comfort of the realm of known knowledge in their respective pursuits. Additionally, the beauty and simplicity of the phrasing epitomize the eighteenth-century scientific rationalists’ optimism about, and trust in, knowledge as a pure good.
....Thoughts? Agree or disagree??
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5 comments:
You are right about the light=knowledge thing. It was the Enlightenment. This probably influenced Mary Shelley's word choice, and the symbol in itself.
While at some points light does equal knowledge, isn't it strange that the result of Victor's gained "light" is something dark? The "monster" (as we have labeled him) is, to Frankenstein, the epitome of all that is evil in the world. It's not particularly significant, I suppose. Just ironic.
I agree. I think we're going to see a lot more similarities between the two scientists before the novel is over. I only wonder if Walton will be smart enough to learn for Frankenstein's mistakes and, if he does, what will be his course of action.
who you think would win in a fight between... a grilled cheese sandwich and a taco?
I think and Walton and Dr. F are basically the same person. Dr. F has already learned what obessiveness can do and he is trying to warn Walton of this. Now will Walton listen?
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