"What may be expected in a country of eternal light? I may there discover the wondrous power which attracts the needle and may regulate a thousand celestial observations that require only this voyage to render their seeming eccentricities consistent forever." (Shelley 16)
Robert Walton appears to be a flat character. He is hellbent on making magnificent scientific discoveries in the North Pole. He craves knowledge; he must attain knowledge and power in order to put meaning into his life. He is very similar to Dr. Frankenstein, who also thirsted for knowledge and scientific discovery when he was younger. Dr. Frankenstein seems to have had a change of heart; it appears he has learned that knowledge is not all good. This leaves the reader wondering whether Robert Walton will learn from Dr. Frankenstein's mistake and give up his voyage before he ruins himself or at least proceed with prudence. Walton's hubris is clearly his curiosity and his mentality that he must discover something in order for his life to matter. Will he become a dynamic character in the end or will he remain a flat character and repeat Dr. Frankenstein's mistakes? The world may never know.
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is it too early to declare a character flat?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mr. Costello. Furthermore, I think that the world probably does know, just not those of us who have not finished the book yet. If I were to guess at the ending, I would predict that Walton will have a change of heart. Though that would be a highly predictable and rather boring ending...
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