Quote Analysis

When Walton tells Victor he has agreed to turn the ship south if the ice breaks, Victor refuses to abandon his pursuit of the creature, claiming his mission comes from a higher authority.

The contrast structure—'You may... but I'—positions Victor and Walton on opposite moral planes, with Victor claiming divine assignment ('assigned to me by Heaven'). This appeal to heavenly authority reframes revenge as sacred duty, letting Victor avoid the uncomfortable reality that he's choosing vengeance over survival.

Use this to argue that Victor disguises personal obsession as moral obligation—by claiming Heaven assigned his revenge, he avoids admitting it's a choice, showing how people reframe destructive impulses as unavoidable duties.