Robert Walton is a character in Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein. He is a sailor and explorer who becomes obsessed with the idea of discovering a new land in the Arctic. In the beginning of the novel, Walton writes letters to his sister in which he describes his journey and the challenges he faces.
As Walton travels further north, he encounters Victor Frankenstein, who is near death after his own journey in search of the creature he created. Victor tells Walton his story, which becomes the main narrative of the novel.
Throughout the novel, Walton serves as a foil to Victor. While Victor is driven by his desire to create life and achieve greatness, Walton is driven by his desire for exploration and discovery. However, both characters ultimately suffer as a result of their obsessions.
Victor's obsession with creating life leads him to neglect his own health and well-being, and ultimately causes him great misery and suffering. Similarly, Walton's obsession with discovering a new land leads him to ignore the dangers of his journey and the potential consequences for his crew.
Despite their different motivations, both Victor and Walton are driven by their desire for greatness and their willingness to pursue their goals at any cost. In the end, both characters learn the hard lesson that the pursuit of greatness can have disastrous consequences.
Overall, Robert Walton is a complex and multifaceted character in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. His desire for exploration and discovery serves as a contrast to Victor's desire for greatness, and both characters ultimately suffer as a result of their obsessions.
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