Ambition is most certainly an issue for some of the
characters depicted in Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein. In the
opening of the novel, in Letters I-IV, readers are introduced to Robert Walton--a man
bent on finding the "seat of magnetism." Walton readily admits to his sister, in the
letters, that he fears his expedition may not end well (with his return). Through this,
readers can assume that Walton recognizes that his journey may be his
last.
Like Walton, Victor's obsession is linked to his
ambition. He is willing to cross the ice fields in order to see that the life of his
"son" is extinguished. Nothing but the creature's end (at this point) is important.
Given that Victor has lost everything in order to bring his "son" to life, Victor's
ambition has a far more negative outcome than the positive one Victor had hoped for: "A
new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures
would owe their being to me."
This said, Victor, after
spending some time with Walton aboard Walton's ship, has come to recognize the deadly
ambition he recognizes in Walton's eyes. Upon Victor's deathbed, he warns Walton about
the problems associated with ambition, and Victor tells Walton to give up his ambitious
nature before it is too late for him (like it is for Victor).
"Farewell,
Walton! Seek happiness in tranquillity and avoid ambition, even if it be only the
apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in science and discoveries. Yet why
do I say this? I have myself been blasted in these hopes, yet another may
succeed.”
Essentially, Walton
and Victor's ambitious nature is the same. Both men are willing to do whatever it tales
to insure their own personal success (without thought of the consequences or those
around them). Their ambition has forced both men to be alone in a world surrounded by
others--best noted by Walton in Letter III. Although he has hired a crew, Walton is
alone. All he desires is a friend.
readability="6">
I have no friend...I desire the company of a man
who could sympathise with me; whose eyes would reply to
mine.
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