‘Epistolary’ means a novel, which is written in letters. These letters are written from Walton to his sister Margaret Saville ‘My beloved sister…from your affectionate brother, Walton.’ In the 18th century epistolary novels were popular, Shelley wrote ‘Frankenstein’ as an epistolary novel, seeing that she wanted her novel to seem like a real, first hand experience. Mary Shelley tries to convince both the reader and Walton that Frankenstein's story is true. I know this in view of the fact that when writing to his sister Walton tells her he ‘cannot doubt it yet I am lost in surprise and admiration.’
Frankenstein is a parallel to Walton in the case of they both have a sister to whom they write letters to such as when Walton writes to his sister ‘To my beloved sister’, the only difference is that when Frankenstein goes away to Ingolstadt University and starts his experiments he stops writing to Elizabeth, which is his sister in Geneva whereas Walton carries on writing to Margaret who is in London, telling her about how far he has got into his journey to the North Pole.
Frankenstein is interested in science this is because of the creature he creates as well as Walton who, whilst making his journey to the North Pole wants to find out about magnetism he wants to do this by ‘ascertaining the secret of the magnet.’
They both are very ambitious, as they want to search for new knowledge and want to do something no other man has ever done before as Walton says he wants to ‘tread a land never imprinted by the foot of man.’ To do this Walton requires a vivid imagination and determination to succeed and both of these men notably seem to have these qualities. Walton is able to recognise he has a lot of determination I know this when he tells his sister he ‘felt a little proud when my captain offered me the second dignity.’
Walton devoted his nights ‘to the study of mathematics and the theory of medicine’ this tells me his thirst for knowledge wants to benefit all of humanity. Both of these men have the same aim in life, which is not to make money but to contribute to civilization.
Frankenstein also spent most of his time creating his creature. Frankenstein wants to be able to create a living being whilst Walton wants to be able to travel to the North Pole by ship. This tells the reader they are both very adventurous.
Walton and Frankenstein are very lonely as they keep themselves to themselves. Frankenstein and Walton both need someone they can talk to about their success Walton recognises this whilst writing to his sister when he tells her ‘when I am glowing with enthusiasm of success there will be no one to participate my joy.’
Frankenstein is able to discourage Walton from continuing on his journey to the North Pole he does this by telling him about his past experiences about creating the creature. This was when Frankenstein was determined to do almost anything to complete his scientific pursuits but when they were completed Frankenstein wasn’t as happy as he thought he would be. Walton quotes what Frankenstein tells him when writing to his sister ‘seek happiness in tranquillity and avoid ambition even if it is the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in science discoveries.’
I think Shelley created Walton to further our understanding of Frankenstein because Walton is in search of the unknown much like Frankenstein is. Shelley also liked the ‘Rime of the Ancient Mariner.’ She made Walton similar to the Ancient Mariner. The Ancient Mariner wanted to travel to the South Pole whereas Walton was travelling to the North Pole. Walton tells his sister he ‘shall kill no albatross’ therefore she should not be alarmed for his safety but if he does he will ’come back to you as worn and woeful as the ‘Ancient Mariner’.’
