Walton's Letters Begin

Robert Walton writes to his sister Margaret Saville from St. Petersburgh, describing his preparations for a voyage to the North Pole. He expresses his ardent desire for discovery and his hope to find a passage near the pole, as well as his longing for a friend to share his ambitions. The letter establishes Walton's character as a driven, romantic explorer, echoing the themes of ambition and isolation that will dominate the novel.