Франкенштейн
Letter 1
ThesevisionsfadedwhenIperused,forthefirsttime,thosepoetswhoseeffusionsentrancedmysoulandliftedittoheaven. Ialsobecameapoetandforoneyearlivedinaparadiseofmyowncreation; IimaginedthatIalsomightobtainanicheinthetemplewherethenamesofHomerandShakespeareareconsecrated. YouarewellacquaintedwithmyfailureandhowheavilyIborethedisappointment. ButjustatthattimeIinheritedthefortuneofmycousin,andmythoughtswereturnedintothechanneloftheirearlierbent.
SixyearshavepassedsinceIresolvedonmypresentundertaking. Ican,evennow,rememberthehourfromwhichIdedicatedmyselftothisgreatenterprise. Icommencedbyinuringmybodytohardship. Iaccompaniedthewhale-fishersonseveralexpeditionstotheNorthSea; Ivoluntarilyenduredcold,famine,thirst,andwantofsleep; Ioftenworkedharderthanthecommonsailorsduringthedayanddevotedmynightstothestudyofmathematics,thetheoryofmedicine,andthosebranchesofphysicalsciencefromwhichanavaladventurermightderivethegreatestpracticaladvantage. TwiceIactuallyhiredmyselfasanunder-mateinaGreenlandwhaler,andacquittedmyselftoadmiration. ImustownIfeltalittleproudwhenmycaptainofferedmetheseconddignityinthevesselandentreatedmetoremainwiththegreatestearnestness,sovaluabledidheconsidermyservices.
Andnow,dearMargaret,doInotdeservetoaccomplishsomegreatpurpose? Mylifemighthavebeenpassedineaseandluxury,butIpreferredglorytoeveryenticementthatwealthplacedinmypath. Oh,thatsomeencouragingvoicewouldanswerintheaffirmative! Mycourageandmyresolutionisfirm; butmyhopesfluctuate,andmyspiritsareoftendepressed.
