Essential Question #9

Robert Walton and Victor Frankenstein are both scholars and scientists that wish to find a greater meaning beyond conventional things. The main goal of science is to help us better understand the world around us, and that is just what these men intend to do. However, they each take interests in different aspects of the world. Walton is interested in journeys and quests for adventure that lead to new land and unseen cultures. Frankenstein, on the other hand, is interested in the secret of death. These differences in their interests may originate in their differences in education. Walton was educated by reading the journals of various adventurers, while Frankenstein received a formal education. This is because of their differences in social class. Walton was raised in a middle class environment, but Frankenstein was raised by a wealthy Italian family. This results in the differences in their education. Also the ways in which Walton learned may have influenced him towards a more adventurous pursuit of knowledge. Also, his middle class upbringing makes the fame and riches that come along with discovery seem more enticing.