Frankenstein Letter Response - in What Sense Does Walton Demonstrate Romantic Learnings?

Emily Carreira

Mr. Connolly

ENG4U1-01

Tuesday November 29 2016

Frankenstein Letter Response

“In what sense does Walton demonstrate romantic learnings?”

     Walton demonstrates romantic learnings though out the letters displayed in the novel. Walton is traveling and exploring while writing these letters, on his way through the Arctic Ocean to the North Pole. He has plans to continue his travels all the way to Russia later on as well. The letters Walton is writing are addressed to his sister explaining his voyage. He tells his sister that he hopes to be successful in expanding his knowledge and if this does not work out that he will return home to her. Walton goes on to talk about his fascination and love for nature. He explains that his atmosphere is something that he could have only dreamed of as he states “my day dreams become more fervent and vivid – it ever presents itself to my imagination as the region of beauty and delight”. In this quote Walton is referring to the North Pole which he finds astonishing and beautiful. His love for natures beauty reflects on his romantic qualities. Similar to this, he decided to explore the world to appreciate all forms of beauty with goes on to emphasize his romanticism.

In the second letter to Walton’s sister, he talks about companionship. Walton admits to being lonely with a strong desire to find a friend while on his voyage. Walton states “you may deem me romantic, my dear sister, but I bitterly feel the want of a friend. I have no one near me, gentle yet courageous, possessed of a cultivated as well as a capacious mind”. When he says this he goes into detail about how how is upset that he is yet to find a friend with a similar mind set. The strong urge to possess a close friend proves Walton’s romanticism.