Underneath the more obvious plot of Frankenstein lies a more subtle relationship between Walton, Victor, and the monster. The three characters are very close; their existence depends on each other. Walton represents man's inherent youthful desire for knowledge, while Victor and the monster represent the moral compass that Walton can use in his scientific endeavors. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Robert Walton makes only a few appearances in Frankenstein, in the form of letters to his sister Margaret. We begin to see very early on, from his first letter, that he is driven to make a name for himself by discovering the cause of magnetism, pioneering the Pacific, or setting foot on uncharted lands. He feels entitled, in fact, to make a discovery, telling his sister that he deserves to "accomplish some great purpose" because of the time it took to get to where he had reached. This thirst for knowledge is paralleled in both Victor and the monster. Victor finds in his scientific studies "continuous food for discovery and knowledge". Victor is further along in his studies than Walton, but he stops short of fully understanding the results of his experiment. Like a neglectful parent, Victor threw his creation to the wind to face the harshness of nature, a rather ironic end considering the monster is antithetical to nature. The monster has also made discoveries, although more metaphysical than scientific. By observing the inhabitants of the farmhouse he learns the language and history. Through their interactions, he learns about family and bonds. The knowledge he gains from his observations through the crack in the wall does not affect him as the discovery would affect Walton or Victor. Those men strive to discover what has not yet been discovered, while the monster seeks only to discover what is in plain sight. Everything he learns serves to sadden him and make him realize his position in the world: that he is an anomaly, without a name, family, or friends. His response to the question “what am I” is a groan, weighed down by his isolation and turmoil. For him, knowledge is more of a parasite than anything else since it “attaches to the mind, once it has taken hold, like a lichen on a rock.” He was ignorant and an animal, but he became intelligent and saddened. Unlike Victor, the monster takes what he learns, internalizes it, and reflects on the lessons. His ultimate goal is to achieve a kind of humanity from his experiences, in effect becoming a more complete individual. Victor initially firmly believes that he is working for the betterment of humanity when he researches the method of bringing life back to the dead, but abandons the fruit of his labor before it has a chance to develop when he sees that his creation is not as beautiful as he had originally intended . Both fail in their efforts. Victor, while trying to improve society as a whole, fails to understand the importance of an individual's effect on it. The monster, while trying to improve himself, fails by attacking and destroying a community. The Monster and Victor represent two ends of a spectrum regarding the acquisition and application of knowledge, and Walton, who has yet to make progress in discovery, must choose a path that lies between them if he is going to make any type of discovery. good for anyone. Walton has yet to discover anything when he begins to write, and his shipmates are on the verge of mutiny. His quest to find the idealistic "land of eternal light" ends rather abruptly when his ship gets stuck in his own wake. The light symbolizes a land of knowledge, discovery and.