Letters, Chapters 1-5

1.  The novel, Frankenstein Or, the Modern Prometheus, begins with letters from Walton to his sister.  Through these letters we find that he is preparing for a journey to the North Pole.  By taking this journey he is adventuring into lands that have never been studied before.  He seems at first excited by this trip he will be going on, but soon encounters ice and becomes stuck.  While stuck on this ice he finds a man on a sled (Victor Frankenstein) in pursuit of something, but now very weak.  He soon starts talking to Frankenstein and becomes very interested in him.  Frankenstein starts becoming well and talking more and more to Walton.  They find they have much in common, yet Walton has not yet reached the point where Frankenstein is at, which is near the point of loosing his mind.  He has become completely infatuated with his creation.  Frankenstein realizes that he may save Walton from himself and explains his own story to him. Both men have a crave for knowledge, and for both of them it could kill.

2.  Victor's new professors at Ingolstadt tell him that his studies of Agrippa and such scientists are useless, as well as experiments to find the "philosopher's stone" and the "elixir of life." He masters all of the things his teachers have to show him, and even makes a name for himself by improving some instruments, yet still has an interest in early natural philosophy. At this point he takes on the task of trying to create life, this shows he apparently never gave up his love for the old world ways of philosophy.  Basically shutting himself into his apartment labratory, he sets to work on not only creating life, but also destroying all of his happiness.  He realizes at one point how unhealthy what he is doing is, but tells himself he will do everything after he finishes. I think he wants to bad to finish so perhaps he can bring back to life his mother.  

3.  It is seen from the beginning that Victor has a great affection for his "cousin" Elizabeth. His mother brings her home, stating that she has a gift for him.  When he sees her he says that he interpreted her words literally, "and looked upon Elizabeth as mine - mine to protect, love, and cherish ... since till death she was to be only mine."  Her and his family seem to be the only source of happiness in his life. After he leaves them, his life begins to fall apart around him and he begins to surround himself with other things and starts to forget about them.