Life's Choices in William Shakespeare's Macbeth and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Life's Choices in William Shakespeare's Macbeth and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

The choices we make in life can change our lives forever. Throughout

the play "Macbeth" written by William Shakespeare and the novel

Frankenstein written by Mary Shelley we learn how the choices made can

change peoples lives forever. The main characters within the play

"Macbeth" and the novel Frankenstein make choices to challenge the

laws of nature that lead to unforeseen consequences, denial, and

death. Some of these are shown within the stories through the loss of

family members, the characters taking no responsibility for the

consequences that have come from their actions, and the in the end the

death of both characters.

Throughout the novel Frankenstein and the play "Macbeth" both Victor

Frankenstein and Macbeth lose family members because of their

decisions. Victor's choices to create the beast against the laws of

nature bring on the death of his brother, William. "I knew it. Could

the demon who had…murdered my brother also in his hellish sport have

betrayed the innocent to death and ignominy" (Shelley 69). He had

known that the monster had murdered his brother, although he continued

on thinking the beast would soon stop, which soon led to the death of

his beloved Elizabeth, and soon his father. "As night approaches I

found myself at the entrance of the cemetery where William, Elizabeth,

and my father repased" (Shelley 85). His choices against the laws of

nature resulted in the same unforeseen consequences as Macbeth.

Macbeth makes choices to work against the laws of nature in murder.

"Our royal master's murdered" (Shakespeare II, iii, l 88). His...

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44-45). Once this is found Macbeth losses control and realizes his

death is near. He tries not to show now that he is scared. "If this

which he avouches does appear, / there is nor flying hence, nor

tarrying here/ I' gin to be a weary of the sun." (Shakespeare V, vi,

ll 47-49). Victor and Macbeth have now lost their lives because of

their shameful choices.

In conclusion, we have read and now know the similarities between

Macbeth from the play "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare and Victor

Frankenstein from the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and how the

choices we make in life can impact on our lives greatly. It was shown

through consequences, denial, and death.

Work Cited

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1977.

Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Bantam Books, 1981.