Lack Of Knowledge In Mary Shelly's Frankenstein

In Frankenstein, Mary Shelly opens the story with letters being written from Robert Walton, who is writing to his sister Margaret Saville. Robert Walton can be assumed to be in the British navy away traveling at sea, around the world and writing to his sister to let her know that he is alive and to tell her his experiences roaming the waters. While he is traveling Robert and his comrades come across a mysterious man that is wandering the sea on a piece of ice. It can be inferred that this mysterious man is Victor Frankenstein, our main narrator, seeking shelter on the ship. Victor and Robert develop a bond and Victor confesses to Robert that “You have hope, and the world before you, and have no cause for despair, But I- I have lost everything and cannot begin life anew.” (Shelly 13).

Shelly is also showing the importance of how knowledge is not everything and that a person should not always strive to learn all that he or she can learn. Shelly is also showing the element of romanticism on how the main narrator Victor is showing the importance of intelligence is not as important as instinct. Victor teaches Robert to not make the same mistakes as him, “You seek for knowledge and wisdom as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been.” (Shelly 14). Mary Shelly grand purpose of opening this story with these letters is an attempt to communicate to the reader the mistakes that the narrator has made and to later discover what those mistakes