“I see by your eagerness, and the wonder and hope which your eyes express, my friend, that you expect to be informed of the secret with which I am acquainted; that cannot be: listen patiently until the end of my story, and you will easily perceive why I am reserved upon that subject.  I will not lead you on, unguarded and ardent as I then was, to your destruction and infallible misery.  Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.”  pg 53

Here, Frankenstein begins to tells Walton of how the creation of his creature has affected his life.  Frankenstein naturally expects that Walton would be interested in his invention of the creature, as both men share a similar thirst for knowledge.  However, instead of diving into a conversation about science, Frankenstein chooses to warn Walton about the dangers of acquiring more knowledge.

Most people want to share their story with the world, especially scientists who have made some kind of breakthrough.  Frankenstein’s masterpiece is his creature, yet instead of boasting about his creation or passing on his discoveries, he warns his newfound friend Walton about the dangers of pursuing knowledge.  Frankenstein suggests that it is better to know less, or as people today would say,”ignorance is bliss.”  This raises the question of whether or not it is possible to live happily in pursuit of something(in this case knowledge), or does choosing one come at the cost of the other?

To live in pursuit, one has to sacrifice happiness in their life.  In the beginning of the passage, Frankenstein notes the “wonder and hope” which Walton’s eyes express.  Walton’s wonder is his curiosity that has led him to become an explorer and he hopes for discovery and the satisfaction of achieving it.  By seeing the “wonder and hope” in Walton’s eyes, Frankenstein is reminded of what he was like before he created his creature.  He was in wonder of what knowledge could lead him to creation of the creature and he had hope of realizing his vision of the creature.  Realizing that Walton was like himself in the past, he chooses to discourage Walton’s pursuit.  At the same time that Frankenstein was driven by his own ” wonder and hope”, he was also driving himself toward a miserable life.  He expects that if Walton were to follow his own “wonder and hope” he would inevitably also end up like him.  Frankenstein wishes he “believed his own native town to be the world” suggesting to Walton that its better not to pursue knowledge if he wants a happy life.  It would be far better, in Frankenstein’s opinion to be content with one’s own livelihood and avoid pursuing a dream that ends up owning you.