Themes in Walton's Letters: Romanticism & Ambition
Romanticism floods Walton's letters through vivid nature descriptions. When he feels "a cold northern breeze play upon my cheeks, which braces my nerves, and fills me with delight," we see his emotional response to nature's power. The Arctic is described as "the region of beauty and delight" with "perpetual splendour," showing the Romantic idealization of untamed wilderness.
Ambition and the pursuit of knowledge drive Walton forward despite dangers. His expedition represents "the commencement of an enterprise" with "increasing confidence" despite others' "evil forebodings." His scientific goals are clear: to discover "the wonderful power which attracts the needle" and make astronomical observations consistent. Beyond science, his personal ambition shows in desires to see "a part of the world never before visited" and "tread a land never before imprinted by the foot of man."
Walton's dedication to his goals is extreme – he has "voluntarily endured cold, famine, thirst and want of sleep" and "preferred glory to every enticement that wealth placed in my life." This foreshadows Victor's own dangerous pursuit of knowledge when Victor warns: "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."
Think deeper: Walton's letters serve as a frame narrative that mirrors Victor's own story. Watch for parallels between their ambitions and potential consequences as you read on!
