In Mary Shelly's novel Frankenstein: or the Modern Prometheus, she portrays two characters that share the same characteristics and personalities. These two characters are Robert Walton and Victor Frankenstein. Each character has dreams of greatness and a plan to bring it about. Yet, the visions, thoughts, and actions of both men follow similar patterns. Both Frankenstein and Walton undertake a journey to greatness but at what cost? Sometimes single-minded focus requires a higher price than one can pay.

According to Patricia Neal, ."..well-educated men chose to explore the unknown and expand mankind's knowledge of the universe" (Neal 2). Robert Walton has this desire for knowledge and a thirst for the unknown. In Walton's letters he tells his sister that he hopes to help humanity and to be well-known someday by finding a passage through the North Pole that would cut travel time considerably. He travels...