Much like Walton and Frankenstein, The Monster is possessed of a thirst for knowledge and discovery. As The Monster gains knowledge, he learns of his own creation through Victor’s letters, and he also gains the thirst for vengeance, eventually driving him to murder William. However, by murdering William and by allowing Justine to die in his own place as the murderer, The Monster allowed his passion to rule him, and manifested his own murderous nature; sealing his own eventual fate. Even though through threat and reason he was able to incline Frankenstein to create him a mate, because The Monster had proven to be murderous, Frankenstein could not bring himself to complete the task. Ironically, The Monster asks himself “Was man, indeed, at once so powerful, so virtuous, and magnificent, yet so vicious and base?” (Shelley 80); while at the same time demonstrating the very same traits he saw in man. In the end, when The Monster’s rage, passion, and vengeance were utterly spent, he realized how far he had come, telling Walton, “I cannot believe that I am he whose thoughts were once filled with sublime and transcendant visions of the beauty and majesty of goodness” (Shelley 154). Much like when Frankenstein realized his fate, and said, “. . . but the apple was already eaten, and the angel’s arm bared to drive me from all hope” (Shelley 131), The Monster realized he could never undo what he had done.
Walton was given a chance neither Frankenstein nor The Monster were given, that is, the chance to see exactly where his choices would lead him, but even when shown the folly of his pursuit, and it’s almost inevitable end, his passion still drove him, and only when his crew gave him no alternative did he consent to return. Frankenstein, The Monster, and Walton all shared the same spirit, a spirit which drove them to the brink of madness, and beyond.
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