Frankenstein: The Beginning

ove and passion again take another turn in the infamous Frankenstein of Mary Shelley. The narrator (Walton) begins and embarks on a journey of being remembered. He is writing letters to his sister, Margaret, as he embarks on a journey to the North Pole. He explains that originally he wanted to be a famous poet like Shakespeare and Homer, and finds that after doing it for only one year, he finds that he cannot do it. If, however, he really wanted to be a poet, he probably wouldn't give up after a year, which suggests that he does not want to be a poet but instead just wants to be idolized.

One day the crew and ship are surrounded on all sides by ice, and on the land they see the monster and Dr. Frankenstein. After this they bring Dr. Frankenstein aboard and he begins to tell his story. He decides to share his story with Walton so that he can teach him a lesson, because they share the same madness, as Walton is willing to sacrifice everything for his "enterprise." Frankenstein exclaims to Walton, "unhappy man, do you share my madness?" Thus he is compelled to share his story with Walton in order to save him the same fate.