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Robert Walton: Exposition
•Walton is captain of a ship headed for the North Pole.
"I have hired a vessel and am occupied in collecting my sailors..." (Walton 4)
His letters form the frame around Victor Frankenstein's narrative.
Letter one-
Walton assures his sister that he is safe and is looking forward to his voyage and now, "six years [had] passed since [he] resolved on [his] present undertaking." (2)
Robert also shows his affection for his sister and he wishes for, "heaven [to] shower down blessings on [her]..."
Letter Two-
"I have no friend; Margaret..."
The captain and lieutenant are possible choices for Robert's companions, but neither seems to fulfill that role for him.
Walton describes how his ship is stuck in an ice field far from land, "Last Monday (July 31st) we were nearly surrounded by ice, which closed in the ship on all sides..." (8-9)
On July 31, the crew sees a man "of gigantic stature" trailing a dog sled team going north and passing to within one-half a mile of their ice bound ship.
That night the, "ice broke and freed [their] ship." They waited until morning to set sail again..
The next morning on August 1, the crew finds another man floating free on an ice flow near their ship. The man's," limbs were nearly frozen..." and to Captain Walton's astonishment the stranger inquired where the ship,"was bound." (10)
The captain finally has a friend...
Captain Walton writes to his sister that his previous concern that,"[he] should find no friend on the wide ocean," has been relieved because he has," found a man....[he would] have been happy to have.... as the brother of [his] heart." (12)
The stranger tries to warn Walton against his heart's passion for adventure...
The man, whom, Walton's, "affection...increases everyday," begins to warn Robert Walton about his own misfortunes due to his passion for adventure. Victor, or rather the stranger, sees much of himself in Walton and plans to save him from the same misery that has become of his life.
Walton can see great tragedy in this stranger and decides to listen to what he has to say while, "record[ing], as nearly as possible in his own words." (15) The notes are addressed to Walton's sister Margaret who Walton believes will take, "the greatest pleasure," (15) in reading.
He tells of normal ship operations in the Arctic Sea but of no incidents that are of significance.
He tells his sister that, "success shall crown [his] endeavors." (8)
Now that he has reached Archangel in March, Robert Walton finds himself lonesome.
Letter Three-
"I write a few lines in haste to say that I am safe — and well advanced on my voyage." (7)
Walton states that his heart is "determined," his will is what matters, and that success or victory will be his.
Captain Robert Walton
The letters....