Essential Question 9

In the four letters and first six chapters of the book, Frankenstein, the reader is introduced to two male characters. One of these men is Robert Walton, who writes the four letters at the beginning of the book. The other man is Victor Frankenstein, who is found by Walton's crew isolated and nearly frozen to death. Both men have very different upbringings. Walton is raised by a middle class English family. Frankenstein is raised by a wealthy Italian family. Both men have siblings. The four letters at the beginning of the book are written by Walton to his sister, Margaret Saville. Frankenstein also describes that he has a younger brother and an adopted sister named Elizabeth. Both men describe their education. Walton educated himself by reading various diaries written by famous adventurers. On the other hand, Frankenstein received a more formal education, as he actually attended classes at the university as Ingolstadt. Both men's education have different areas of focus. As already described, Walton studied the diaries of adventurers. Frankenstein's studies focused on anatomy and life itself. Both men express an interest in nature as well. That is how Robert Walton and Victor Frankenstein compare and contrast as men, scholars, and scientists.