Similarities Between Frankenstein And Macbeth

Too much ambition can be the death of a man (Lynette Hill). Such is the case in Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”. Both stories explore the dire consequences of ambition leading to the downfall of their character. For these characters, ambition becomes less a dream, and more of a nightmare resulting in deep remorse and ultimately death.

In “Macbeth”, ambition is first seen deeply rooted in Macbeth’s soul however, instead of leading Macbeth to glory, it spirals downward into a hapless pit of guilt and death. After murdering the King to pave his way to the throne, Macbeth immediately felt remorse pleading, “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood/ Clean from my hand” (Shakespeare 2.2.63-64). Macbeth was suddenly succumbed with guilt for he would never clear his conscience of the crime he committed.

Moreover, after his success in obtaining the crown, Macbeth was hated by the populace. However in Macbeth’s last words, he did not surrender his ambition yelling, “Before my body, / I throw my warlike shield” (5.8.32-33). Macbeth continued to be blinded by his ambitions leading to mutiny and his death. Ambition drove Macbeth to ruin for attaining his goals did not achieve happiness but rather directed his defeat.
Furthermore, in “Frankenstein”, Victor Frankenstein has created a murderous being as the result of his aspirations for which he felt guilt and lost his life.

Frankenstein became racked with despair after the death of the monster’s first victim exclaiming that, “Anguish and despair had penetrated my heart; I bore a hell within me which nothing could extinguish” (Shelley 70). Frankenstein felt anguish, not only for the death of his loved one, but also for the guilt he felt being the one who caused it. This inner turmoil creates an undying anger in Frankenstein at the root of which is remorse. Additionally, this fiery despair leads Victor to a new ambition of revenge. Frankenstein devotes the rest of his life to killing the monster for he feels, “I must pursue and destroy the being to whom I gave existence; then my lot on earth will be fulfilled and I may die” (189). Frankenstein’s ambition had changed course from the creation of the monster to the destruction of it; nonetheless, his life was taken in the pursuit. As a result of his ambition, Victor Frankenstein has created a monster causing him much remorse and untimely

death
Clearly, both “Frankenstein” and “Macbeth” display ambition as the cause of their character’s downfall. The main character in each story is penitent for they feel tremendous guilt as a result of their ambitious actions. In each text, the character had a dream fuelled by blind ambition, however when realized, these dreams lead to ultimate demise. When it comes to your dreams, how much would you sacrifice?