Upon completing this novel, I was stricken with the sense of isolation and loneliness. This idea is placed within the novel between the three characters who the reader sees a narrative from: Walton, Frankenstein, and the monster. Walton desires a companion on his explorations, describing his longing within the letters he writes to his sister. Frankenstein not only isolates himself upon the creation of his monster, but loses his most precious companions one by one. Both Walton and the monster desire companionship which Frankenstein can provide for both of them. However, Frankenstein takes away his monster’s companion; as he is the only one capable of creating one, he is the only one who can take it away. In return, the monster takes away from Frankenstein, leaving them both very much alone. Frankenstein also passes soon after he tells Walton his tale, leaving Walton alone from his new found friend. Frankenstein and his monster both die with their secret, but it is only Walton who carries their secret now. The question then becomes, does Walton returning back to England end the cycle of isolation? Or will it continue to persist?
