Who was Robert Walton in Mary Shelley Frankenstein?

Robert Walton is the fictional explorer and narrator of Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein. He is depicted as an ambitious sailor and adventurer who seeks glory by reaching the North Pole. During his journey, he encounters Victor Frankenstein, the creator of the monster, who shares his tragic tale. Walton serves as a parallel character to Frankenstein, embodying scientific curiosity and the need for companionship in the face of nature's overwhelming forces.