Frankenstein- Synecdoche

"I may there discover the wondrous power which attracts the needle; and may regulate a thousand celestial observations, that require only this voyage to render their seeming eccentricities consistent for ever." PAGE 1

This quote provides an example of synechdoche. Walton is referring to his desire to explore. He wants to find something that no one has found before. In this quote, the needle refers to the needle in a compass. The needle is standing for the whole of the compass. Walton desires to make it to the North Pole where no one has gone. He seeks for knowledge of the magnets and what makes it point north. The synecdoche is effective because the reader knows what is meant by the needle. We know he is referring to the compass. The benefit to calling it a needle is that it stresses the magnetic nature of the compass. The magnet is what Walton is interested in. He wants to understand what no one else can.