Even broken in spirit as he is, no one can feel more deeply than he does the beauties of nature. The starry sky, the sea, and every sight afforded by these wonderful regions seem still to have the power of elevating his soul from earth.
Letters, Letter 4 · Robert Walton
Context
Walton reflects on Victor's continued sensitivity to natural beauty despite his broken emotional state, noting how the Arctic landscape still affects him deeply.
Analysis
Walton grants nature active power—the sky and sea "have the power of elevating his soul"—as if the landscape performs work on Victor rather than Victor choosing to appreciate it. This phrasing makes Romantic nature into a kind of medicine or force that acts independently of human will, operating even on someone too damaged to seek it out.
Essay Tip
Support a thesis that Shelley presents nature as a rehabilitative force that works involuntarily—Victor's responsiveness to beauty persists despite his despair, suggesting the novel holds onto a Romantic belief that the natural world can reach people even when human connection fails.