Final answer:
Frankenstein's ambition to create life and Walton's ambition to explore the unknown are linked by their shared desire for glory and illustrate the theme of overreaching in the pursuit of knowledge, which often leads to tragic outcomes as depicted in Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'.
Step-by-step explanation:
Frankenstein's ambition to conquer death by creating life through scientific means mirrors Walton's ambition of exploring uncharted territory and making a name for himself in the field of discovery. Both characters are driven by a deep yearning to achieve something extraordinary, pushing the boundaries of human experience and knowledge. Their ambitions are not only personal but also a reflection of the larger Romantic themes that Mary Shelley grapples with in the novel - the pursuit of knowledge, the power and limitations of science, and the human desire for transcendence.
Victor's ambition leads him to create his monster, which becomes a symbol of his hubris and the dark side of his quest for knowledge, mirroring the Greek myth of Icarus who flew too close to the sun on his wax wings. Walton's ambition, while less destructive, still poses potential harm as he ventures into the dangerous Arctic in pursuit for glory. Both characters' ambitions show the human tendency to overreach, and the tragic consequences that often follow such hubris.