Second letter Frankenstein
How is does Walton represent the Romantic ideal?
Frankenstein is a prime example of a text influenced by its early romantic predecessors, representing the Romantic Movement through Walton’s letters of personal sentiments. This is especially prevalent within the second letter in which Walton discloses his inner desires to his sister where the desire for companionship and eagerness to explore the great unknown is expressed. “I greatly need a friend who would have sense enough not to despise me as romantic and affection enough for me to endeavour to regulate my mind.” The isolation depicted in Walton’s lack of friendship and his realisation of his feelings embodies the powerful emphasis on emotions associated with the Romantic Movement. It is through the untrammelled repeated mentions of Walton’s desires that the raw emotions associated with the Romantic Movement are expressed. As such, the sheer force of feelings can be felt through Walton’s lack of companionship.
The validation of romanticism exists in the fascination of the natural aesthetics, which is widespread throughout the letter. The admiration and passion for aesthetic beauty is portrayed In Walton’s letter, providing an idealistic representation of the romantics. ”There is a love for the marvellous, a belief in the marvellous, intertwined in all my projects, which hurries me out of the common pathways of men, even to the wild sea and unvisited regions”. The emotions associated with natural aesthetics are characteristic of the romantic ideal and this is evident in Frankenstein as Shelley embodies this very notion within Walton’s ambitious endeavours. Walton attributes the natural world with a sense of admiration and wonder, evident in the repeated mentions of emotive language such as “wild”, “belief” and “marvellous”.
The romantic ideal is further emphasised through Walton’s allusions to the early romantic works. “I am going to unexplored regions, to ‘the land of mist and snow,’ but I shall kill no
Frankenstein is a prime example of a text influenced by its early romantic predecessors, representing the Romantic Movement through Walton’s letters of personal sentiments. This is especially prevalent within the second letter in which Walton discloses his inner desires to his sister where the desire for companionship and eagerness to explore the great unknown is expressed. “I greatly need a friend who would have sense enough not to despise me as romantic and affection enough for me to endeavour to regulate my mind.” The isolation depicted in Walton’s lack of friendship and his realisation of his feelings embodies the powerful emphasis on emotions associated with the Romantic Movement. It is through the untrammelled repeated mentions of Walton’s desires that the raw emotions associated with the Romantic Movement are expressed. As such, the sheer force of feelings can be felt through Walton’s lack of companionship.
The validation of romanticism exists in the fascination of the natural aesthetics, which is widespread throughout the letter. The admiration and passion for aesthetic beauty is portrayed In Walton’s letter, providing an idealistic representation of the romantics. ”There is a love for the marvellous, a belief in the marvellous, intertwined in all my projects, which hurries me out of the common pathways of men, even to the wild sea and unvisited regions”. The emotions associated with natural aesthetics are characteristic of the romantic ideal and this is evident in Frankenstein as Shelley embodies this very notion within Walton’s ambitious endeavours. Walton attributes the natural world with a sense of admiration and wonder, evident in the repeated mentions of emotive language such as “wild”, “belief” and “marvellous”.
The romantic ideal is further emphasised through Walton’s allusions to the early romantic works. “I am going to unexplored regions, to ‘the land of mist and snow,’ but I shall kill no