Christie #1

In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, new acquaintances Walton and Victor share their stories and personalities through the series of letters written by Walton to his sister, Margaret. Throughout the first 10 chapters, we learn what drives these two men on their individual endeavors: Walton to the North Pole, and Victor to create the monster. In comparing the two, I found that Walton is driven by motivation, and Frankenstein by inspiration, which I believe to be two distinct subsets of desire. Walton is motivated, influenced to action, by desire for prestige and fulfillment. He sees himself as a man of great potential and wishes to achieve it, and discover the North Pole for himself. In his first letter, detailing the beginning of his journey, he writes "... do I not deserve to accomplish some great purpose? My life might have been passed in easy and luxury; but I preferred glory to every enticement that wealth placed in my path" (3). In contrast to Walton's motivation through enticement, Victor's character is inspired. "So much has been done, exclaimed the soul of Frankenstein—more, far more, will I achieve; treading in the steps already marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation," (28) recounted Frankenstein of his early inspirations at the university. He was fascinated by the natural world and the secret of life, and above all he was consumed by an insatiable thirst for knowledge- not so much motivated as a student for good grades but rather inspired as a learner to gain, control, and possess. In essence, however, whether one be driven by motivation, inspiration, or other influence, what fuels a man like Walton or Frankenstein is essentially desire. It is this powerful desire for glory and knowledge, respectively, that consumes the men to the point of unhealthy obsession. They lose control of their passion and it ultimately controls them, leading Victor down a turbulent, ominous path and steering Walton towards daunting icebergs both literal and metaphoric. Walton is less intelligent, less intellectual, and just slightly less passionate than was Victor, which gives reader hope that his fate may be slightly more fortunate. Both men are incredibly driven, and so engrossed in their aspirations that it becomes unhealthy.