Minor Characters
Robert Walton
In the text, Robert Walton is a polar explorer which meets Frankenstein while stuck in the ice. He has many similar traits to Frankenstein in the way he is driven by a desire for discovery. Also much like VF, he experiences great lonlieness. We are first introduced to him right at the start of the novel, where he explains how he is embarking on a journey. A journey to find “undiscovered land”, he makes it seem like there is no way he won’t accomplish his mission and says that “success shall crown my endeavours”. We know he has a sister whom he is writing to called Margaret, and he updates her with everything happening on his journey. Very much like VF, Robert has a godlike complex associated with him. He has “voluntarily endured cold, famine, thirst and want of sleep”. He believes he will either succeed or die trying and thinks that leaving behind a great legacy is worth the risk. He also shows how he thinks he has the power to control life or death and that “One mans life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge of which I sought.”
Henry Clerval-
Henry Clerval is the best friend of Victor Frankenstein. They grew up together in Geneva, and were pretty much family, Victor considered Henry a brother. We are first introduced to Henry in chapter 2 when Victor describes how admirable and kind Henry is. However, we don’t fully get introduced to Henry until chapter 5 where we find out Henry is also coming to study at Ingolstadt. VF gets very sick and we see that Henry puts his own studies on hold to nurse Victor back to health. Throughout the novel, nothing bad is ever said about Henry, and he is described as having a “noble spirit,” and of being “perfectly humane, so thoughtful in his generosity, so full of kindness and tenderness amidst his passion”. Henry represents the contrast of everything Victor is not. This is why it is so tragic when he gets killed by the monster it is so shocking and devastating. Two key ideas that Henry shows are compassion and sanity. Henry always seems to turn up when VF needs him most.
Elizabeth Frankenstein-