Франкенштейн
Letter 1
Ishallsatiatemyardentcuriositywiththesightofapartoftheworld neverbeforevisited,andmaytreadalandneverbeforeimprintedbythefootofman. Thesearemyenticements,andtheyaresufficienttoconquerallfearofdanger ordeathandtoinducemetocommencethislabouriousvoyagewiththejoy achildfeelswhenheembarksinalittleboat, withhisholidaymates,onanexpeditionofdiscoveryuphisnativeriver. Butsupposingalltheseconjecturestobefalse, youcannotcontesttheinestimablebenefitwhichIshallconferonallmankind, tothelastgeneration,bydiscoveringapassagenearthepoletothosecountries, toreachwhichatpresentsomanymonthsarerequisite; orbyascertainingthesecretofthemagnet,which,ifatallpossible,canonlybeeffectedbyanundertakingsuchasmine.
ThesereflectionshavedispelledtheagitationwithwhichIbeganmyletter, andIfeelmyheartglowwithanenthusiasmwhichelevatesmetoheaven, fornothingcontributessomuchtotranquillizethemind asasteadypurpose—apointonwhichthesoulmayfixitsintellectualeye. Thisexpeditionhasbeenthefavouritedreamofmyearlyyears. Ihavereadwithardourtheaccountsofthevariousvoyages whichhavebeenmadeintheprospectofarrivingattheNorthPacificOceanthroughtheseaswhichsurroundthepole. Youmayremember thatahistoryofallthevoyagesmadeforpurposesofdiscoverycomposedthewholeofourgoodUncleThomas’library. Myeducationwasneglected,yetIwaspassionatelyfondofreading. Thesevolumesweremystudydayandnight,andmyfamiliaritywiththemincreasedthatregretwhichIhadfelt, asachild,onlearningthatmyfather’sdyinginjunctionhadforbiddenmyuncle toallowmetoembarkinaseafaringlife.
