Frankenstein

The theme of discovery is one of the central themes in the novel. Mary Shelley draws many parallels between characters of the novel, their paths of discovery and interactions with society, which play a significant role in the development of these characters and their approach to knowledge. Strong parallels are drawn between Walton and the monsterÐ'--two male characters thirsty for discovery as well as acceptance in society. Although Walton's and the monster's journeys of discovery are driven by desire and need to be accepted in society, both isolate themselves from it. While Walton consciously isolates himself from society in which he wants to be accepted, the monster is pushed away from the Western world and pursues a utopian alternative.

Walton thirst for knowledge is driven by the need to be recognized by the society. The lack of formal education in Walton's development shapes a negative perception of himself from which he is trying to break away by stepping on the path of knowledge and discovery with hopes to be accepted in the world. Walton writes about it in the second letter to Margaret: "But it is still a greater evil to me that I am self-educated [Ð'...] Now I am twenty-eight and am in reality more illiterate than many schoolboys of fifteen" (Shelley, Frankenstein, page 53). Evidently Walton does not feel that he matches the image of a mature man created by the Western society of his time. To match that image is to be accepted and recognized. The vital force behind Walton's journey to the North Pole, his path of discovery and ultimately his isolation is the need of social recognition. In the first letter to Margaret Walton writes: "And now, dear Margaret, do I not deserve to accomplish some great purpose. My life might have been passed in ease and luxury; but I preferred glory to every enticement that wealth placed in my path". Walton's search for glory and a greater purpose is evident as we learn about his past: "I imagined I also might find a niche in the temple of where the names of Homer and Shakespeare are consecrated. [Ð'...] You are well acquainted with my failure and how heavily I bore a disappointment." (Shelley, Frankenstein, page 51). After failing to establish himself in the society as a poet Walton turns to science and discovery. By bringing benefit to the mankind Walton hopes to be recognized by the western world: "you cannot contest the inestimable benefit which I shall confer on all mankind to the last generation, by discovering the passage near the pole to those countries" (Shelley, Frankenstein, page 50). It is not merely Walton's altruistic notions that he feels the need to gratify but his conscious need to find his place and purpose in the world.

In order to fulfill his ambitions Walton isolates himself from society. His seclusion is a conscious decision. Walton is not running away from England or the Western world. In fact he expresses the need to be connected to home: "Continue to write to me by every opportunity [Ð'...] Remember me to all my English friends". (Shelley, Frankenstein, pages 55-56) In one of his letters he even says something that could be considered a concern about loosing his Western identity: "The cold is not excessive, if you are wrapt in furs, a dress which I have already adopted". (Shelley, Frankenstein, page 52) The fact that Walton continually writes to Margaret shows the significance of being connected England and the Western world on the whole. Trough his need to be connected to home it is evident that Walton is neither pushed away by the society nor is he trying to escape it but intentionally leaves it to pursue discovery and ultimately attain glory and historical recognition.

Unlike Walton, the monster is not seeking glory. He steps on the path of knowledge in order find acceptance among humans, as opposed to world acknowledgement. As the monster learns that he is different from others and that his appearance is the main barrier that holds him from being accepted into human society, he turns to knowledge, hoping that it will bring him closer to humans. After meeting the cottagers and observing their way of life from a distance the monster develops a desire to become closer to them: "I was unseen and unknown, and which rather increased than satisfied the desire I had of becoming one among my fellows." (Shelley, Frankenstein, page 146) The monster understands that his appearance will only push the society away from him; at the same time his need for human contact and acceptance is so great that he decides to learn the language of the cottagers: "Ð'...the idea instantly occurred to me, that I should make use of the same instructions on to the same end." (Shelley, Frankenstein, page 143) The monster seeks human kindness and loveÐ'--things he never experienced in his lifetime: "The more I saw of them, the greater became my desire to claim their protection and kindness; my heart yearned to be known and loved by these amiable creatures: to see their sweet looks turned towards me with affection, was the utmost limit of my ambition." (Shelley, Frankenstein, page 157) Thus his education is driven by the wish to be accepted and loved by the cottagers as opposed to world acceptance and historical recognition as in Walton's case.

Contrary to Walton, the monster is not willfully leaving the society. Despite his numerous attempts to find acceptance among humans, the monster is pushed away by the society into isolation. From the first days of his life the monster is forced to hide in the woods, isolated from humans: "I never ventured abroad during daylight, fearful of meeting with the same treatment as I had formerly endured in the first village which I entered." (Shelley, Frankenstein, page 144) Despite the monster's education the cottagers reject him the moment they see him; this, however, does not eliminate monster's desire to be part of human society. The monster saves a girl from drowning, showing his kindness and good will. This however only pushes him further away by the society: "On seeing me, he darted towards me, and tearing the girl from my arms, hastened towards the deeper parts of the woods. I followed speedily, I hardly knew why; but when the man saw me draw near, he aimed