I try in vain to be persuaded that the pole is the seat of frost and desolation; it ever presents itself to my imagination as the region of beauty and delight.
Letters, Letter 1 · Robert Walton
Context
Walton writes to his sister Margaret from St. Petersburg, describing his mental image of the North Pole as he prepares for his Arctic expedition. He admits that he cannot accept the conventional view of the pole as a barren, frozen wasteland.
Analysis
The phrase 'try in vain' reveals Walton's inability to control his own imagination—he knows he should accept reality but cannot stop himself from romanticizing the unknown. The verb 'presents itself' positions his imagination as an active force working against reason, suggesting his judgment is already compromised by desire. This sets up a pattern where ambition overpowers rational caution.
Essay Tip
Support a thesis that Walton's failure to be 'persuaded' by reality marks him as dangerously self-deluded from the novel's opening—his imagination doesn't just supplement facts but actively resists them, a warning about unchecked ambition.