Robert Walton

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Quotations

Here are some quotations highlighting key aspects of Walton's character.

Ambitious

'You cannot contest the inestimable benefit which I shall confer on all mankind to the last generation...'
- Walton seems certain that his expedition will bring benefits to the whole of humanity, as Victor was.
'secret of the magnet'
- This wording also echoes Victor's discovery of the 'secret of life'.

Lonely

'I have no one near me, gentle yet courageous, possessed of a cultivated as well as of a capacious mind'.
- Walton does not feel a connection to any of his crew and feels that the only meaningful friendship to him would be with a person of similar class.

Self-centred and corrupted

'how gladly I would sacrifice my fortune, my existence, my every hope, to the furtherance of my enterprise.'
- Walton values his expedition above all else.
'One man's life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge which I sought.'
- Shelley uses Walton's words to highlight the corrupting influence of a self-centred pursuit of knowledge.

Avoids Victor's mistakes

'Thus are my hopes blasted by cowardice and indecision; I come back ignorant and disappointed.'
- Although Walton feels like a failure, Shelley highlights through comparison with Victor that a less stubborn and more humble response to failure is ultimately more positive.

1Plot Summaries

1.1Volume I

1.1.1Letters I-IV

1.1.2Chapters 1-3

1.1.3Chapters 4-6

1.1.4Chapters 7-8

1.1.5End of Topic Test - Volume I

1.2Volume II

1.2.1Chapters 1-3

1.2.2Chapters 4-6

1.2.3Chapters 7-9

1.2.4End of Topic Test - Volume II

1.3Volume III

1.3.1Chapters 1-3

1.3.2Chapters 4-6

1.3.3Chapter 7 & Walton in Continuation

1.3.4End of Topic Test - Volume III

2Characters

2.1Victor Frankenstein

2.1.1Role

2.1.2Quotations

2.1.3End of Topic Test - Victor Frankenstein

2.2The Monster

2.2.1Role

2.2.2Quotations

2.2.3End of Topic Test - The Monster

2.2.4Grade 9 - The Monster Question & Extract

2.3Other Characters

2.3.1Robert Walton

2.3.2Elizabeth Lavenza

2.3.3Alphonse Frankenstein

2.3.4Henry Clerval

2.3.5Justine Moritz

2.3.6The De Laceys

2.3.7End of Topic Test - Walton, Elizabeth & Alphonse

2.3.8End of Topic Test - Henry, Justine & the De Laceys

3Key Themes

3.1Ambition & Pursuit of Knowledge

3.1.1Presentation

3.1.2Key Quotations

3.2Prejudice

3.2.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.3Justice

3.3.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.3.2End of Topic Test - Ambition, Prejudice & Justice

3.4Companionship & Family

3.4.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.5Revenge

3.5.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.6Monstrosity

3.6.1Presentation

3.6.2Key Quotations

3.7Gender

3.7.1Presentation

3.7.2Key Quotations

3.7.3Key Themes - Companionship, Revenge & More

4Authorial Method

4.1Genre & Intertextuality

4.1.1Genre

4.1.2Intertextuality

4.1.3End of Topic Test - Genre & Intertextuality

4.2Form & Structure

4.2.1Form

4.2.2Structure

4.3Settings & Symbolism

4.3.1Settings

4.3.2Symbolism

4.4Imagery & Doubling

4.4.1Imagery

4.4.2Doubling

4.4.3End of Topic Test - Structure, Settings & More

5Context

5.1Context

5.1.1Mary Shelley

5.1.2Time of Writing

5.1.3End of Topic Test - Context

6Recap: Main Quotes

6.1Characters Quotes

6.1.1Victor Frankenstein

6.1.2Quotations

6.1.3Robert Walton

6.1.4Elizabeth Lavenza

6.1.5Alphonse Frankenstein

6.1.6Henry Clerval

6.1.7Justine Moritz

6.1.8The De Laceys

6.2Text Structure - Quotes

6.2.1Ambition & Pursuit of Knowledge

6.2.2Prejudice

6.2.3Justice

6.2.4Companionship & Family

6.2.5Revenge

6.2.6Monstrosity

6.2.7Gender

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