Victor motivates the mutinous crew by appealing
passionately to their sense of right-mindedness and fortitude. He urges
them,
"Be men,
or be more than men. Be steady to your purposes and firm as a rock...Do not return to
your families with the stigma of disgrace marked on your brows. Return as heroes who
have fought and conquered and who know not what it is to turn their backs on the
foe."
Trapped in the waters
of the far north by "mountains of ice," and in "imminent danger of being crushed," the
men are dying in the brutal cold. Although they had at first set out to find the monster
described by Victor Frankenstein with enthusiasm, they have lost heart, and a large
number of them wish only to return home if, in fact, they should ever be freed from
their icy trap. These men approach Walton with mutinous intent, desiring from him a
"solemn promise" that, should the opportunity arise, he will turn back home rather than
continue in the quest initiated by Victor Frankenstein. It is at this moment that Victor
delivers his heartfelt appeal.
Victor's speech gives
evidence of his determination, sense of integrity, and singlemindedness. He is
determined to find the monster, and nothing will stand in his way, not even the threat
of danger and possible annihilation to himself, the captain, and crew. He has a deep
understanding of the essence of integrity, appealing to the potential mutineers' nobler
inclinations and challenging them to call forth their courage and fortitude in the face
of seemingly insurmountable odds; his words communicate a fierce idealism and are "full
of lofty design and heroism." Most of all, Victor shows himself to be unyieldingly
singe-minded, which in its extremity, might be seen to go beyond the laws of reason.
Victor is focused on his goal of finding the monster, to the point that he is obsessed,
and unmindful of any argument that further pursuing his objective might be neither
sensible nor wise (Volume 3, Chapter 7).
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