Chapter 2

Chapter 2 seems to be a whole foreshadowing of Victor's soon-to-come life experiment. Many people know the basics of the story of Frankenstein and how he came to be. When he begins to tell about his discovery of the Cornelius Agrippa book and his fascination with his philosophy and theories, he talks about his search for the "philosopher's stone" and the "elixir of life". He also retells an account where he saw a bolt of lightning strike a tree in his yard and obliterate it. For those who know the story of Frankenstein, he was created to prove that you could bring the dead back to life and he was by using the electricity generated from a lightning storm.
These two key events are what begin Victor's fascination and slight obsession with creating his Frankenstein monster.

I am thinking that there are possible oedipal feelings that Robert Walton has for his sister. The way his refers to her at the ends of his letters, especially the 2nd letter, is quite affectionate.

"Continue for the present to write to me by every opportunity: I may receive your letters on some occasions when I need them most to support my spirits. I love you very tenderly. Remember me with affection, should you never hear from me again.

Your affectionate brother,
Robert Walton"

Maybe it's just the times, but I'm not so sure people refer to their sisters in such a manner.

After reading the letters and getting into the first few chapters, I noticed a connection between Victor and the stranger Robert Walton meets. They both talk about their tainted destinies (the stranger refers to his past as being dark and disastrous. As Victor tells about his childhood, he begins to hint at parts that led to his downfall. He describes them as an unavoidable force of evil nature that was waiting to come a get him. I believe that the stranger and Victor are the same person and where the letters leave off make this quite plausible.

First Letter

Well, after reading the first letter, I saw that Robert Walton is very enthusiastic about his upcoming journey. He continues to reiterate his excitement to his sister by comparing himself to that of a young boy who goes on imaginary adventures with his friends. He explains that he has some doubts about the journey but his ___ are "sufficient to conquer all fear of danger or death". Given that his journey is towards the North Pole in search of the Northwest Passage and this is taking place during the 1700s, the circumstances in which he is dealing with are not particularly safe (wooden ships and ice, not fun stuff). The fact that he seems untroubled by these facts gives us a hint about his character. He is seemingly foolish and/or reckless for taking a trip like this so lightly and also does not seem to weigh the consequences greatly (he mentions at the end of his letter that if he should fail, she will she him again shortly, or not all at in a very nonchalant manner).