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Common themes in literature
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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. …show more content…
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
Ambition can be seen in Macbeth when he is told that he will become king. This is seen when Macbeth says to the three witches: “Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more” (Act 1, Scene 3). He does not wait for this to happen so he kills King Duncan to become king. Modern audiences can understand this as ambition is still seen today. It is a natural emotion to feel ambitious and people work to achieve these feelings. An example is Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple. He had lots of ambition to develop technology but he had to step over other people to get to where he was. Guilt is also shown throughout the play. After killing King Duncan, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth feel guilty and hallucinate about the blood on their hands that will not wash off. This is demonstrated when Macbeth cries out: “What hands are here! Ha! They pluck out mine eyes. Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?” (Act 2, Scene 2). This demonstrates guilt as they are haunted by their act. Modern audiences can relate to this because feeling guilty is common after doing something wrong. The themes of ambition and guilt are still evident in modern society and as a result are still
Not wanting to look at his creation, Victor begins isolating himself from his creation; therefore, “the monster is clearly determined to visit the same injustice to which he has been condemned upon Victor and all those he loves” (Bloom 49). Victor Frankenstein is unable to end the monsters revengeful acts; therefore, things are getting out of control including the monsters upward growing feeling of abandonment, isolation, and loneliness. By linking William, Victor’s younger brother, as belonging to Frankenstein, he threatens to kill him in revenge. The monster made threat to his brother “Frankenstein! you belong then to my enemy--to him towards whom I have sworn eternal revenge; you shall be my first victim” (Shelley 100). This making it apparent that his revenge was growing, and though the first, this would not be the last victim; therefore, its terrifying acts are destroying his creators’ life as well as the lives of those around him. Especially the people he loves and those that love
Both Mary Shelley’s, “Frankenstein”, and William Shakespeare’s, “Macbeth”, present strong and noble men who end up taking the wrong paths in their lives. Both texts show what happens when a man is overpowered by his weaknesses. In this case, ambition appears to be at the center of their downfall. Both protagonists go against the natural order of society to achieve their goals, and as a result, both suffer from mental instability. Macbeth defies the Divine Right of Kings as well as the Great Chain of Being, two hierarchal structures that were used to govern the Jacobean society, as he unrightfully tries to become King.
Macbeth’s blind ambition leads him to surrender to his dark desires that taunt him throughout the play. Macbeth is frequently tempted to result to the wrongful methods that seem to roam inside of him. In the beginning however Macbeth tends to ignore these desires and depends on chance. He declares “if chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, without my stir” (Shakespeare, act 1, scene 3, 143-144). This declaration by Macbeth shows his initial stand, which is reliant on fate and sin free. Yet as Macbeth’s character develops throughout the play, he moves farther from his dependence on chance and closer to his darker desires. Eventually his blind ambition to become king overp...
To whom is driven by ambition, could not escape from the guilt that haunted them. Every person grapels not only in everyday life but in literature and in animated movies. Two well known works such as Roger Allers The Lion King and Shakespeare’s Macbeth express this message that guilt will haunt who is driven by ambition through foreshadowing, motif and foil characters.
“As falls the dew on quenchless sands, blood only serves to wash ambition's hands” (Byron). Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and William Shakespeare’s Macbeth both experience the plague of ambition, so much so that they inadvertently allow the powerful force to invade their lives and corrupt them.The overwhelming guilt over the death of loved ones and the mental illness that follow suit after achieving their goals, are depicted in both stories. The negative consequences of ambition left both characters unable to wash the guilt from their hands and mentally and physically ill.
In the previous chapter, Frankenstein describes his rejection from the family which he observed, and the emotional impact which this has on him is outlined in this chapter (8). Frankenstein describes the factors which fuel his rage, and his desire for revenge, as he acts out violently and destructively. The chapter begins with Frankenstein explaining his emotions, saying, “The cold stars shone in mockery, and the bare trees waved their branches above me; now and then the sweet voice of a bird burst forth amidst the universal stillness. All, save I, were at rest or in enjoyment; I, like the arch-fiend, bore a hell within me, and finding myself unsympathized with, wished to tear up the trees, spread havoc and destruction around me, and then to
Macbeth is one of the characters in which ambition takes a higher ranking than guilt. Before Macbeth murders Duncan, he senses that something is wrong and he starts to think about the implications of his actions. As Lyman and Scott said in their essay, “Macbeth’s Journey into Nothingness,” “Macbeth’s terrible self-discovery is that his ambitions are independent of the actions and consequences associated with achieving and maintaining his goals” (115). Macbeth realizes that if he can separate the feelings of guilt and thoughts of consequences from his actions, he is able to simultaneously be ambitious and complete his goals. Macbeth does not realize that this feat is too complicated for a human and will end up being his demise. As Macbeth is about to kill Duncan, he sees the dagger floating in the air pointing to Duncan. He is afraid of this unnatural event and says, “It is the bloody business which informs thus to mine eyes,” (II.i.55-56). Although Macbeth is so filled with guilt that he is seeing imaginary daggers floating in front of him, he still feels too empowered by the witches’ prophecies to seriously stop and think about what he is doing before he does someth...
Time and time again, Victor Frankenstein becomes crippled by the emotions that cloud his head. Feelings such as regret, remorse, guilt, and fear, leave him “[wishing] that peace would revisit [his] mind” (Shelley 62) and urge him to seek out “relief from [the] intolerable sensations” (64) that have built up inside him. Yet, rather than facing his demons with a passionate resolve, he resorts to cowering away as “remorse [has already] extinguished every [ounce of] hope” (62) he may have ever had. He, in turn, is left with the fear that his previous actions may one day find their way back to him. Victor’s inability to confront his monsters face-to-face demonstrates how easily he can be inhibited by his emotions while also acting as a roadblock on his journey to
Frankenstein’s creation was a victim of circumstance. One who is brought into the world alone, with no protector to guide him, and is driven to desolation. A person with no mate is miserable, doomed to spend his life without pleasure or company. A man who is thrown out by those he deems his fellow creatures, lives a mean life, alone with infinite misery. Any creature that is demoted to this degree of torment is deserving of our sympathy. The monster is driven to his misery, and because of his anguish, transforms from a docile, loving creature, into a vicious, malevolent animal bent on revenge. Frankenstein’s monster was a victim of circumstance, and so deserves our sympathy.
Friendship: In Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein. Can you really trust your best friend? Unfortunately, in Macbeth, Macbeth sends murderers to kill Banquo, his friend, on his selfish rise to power. In Frankenstein, Victor’s best friend Henry is there to comfort Victor when he is feeling down. Both stories show how Victor and Macbeth become isolated and selfish, which results in consequences in each of their friendships with their best friends.
When individuals experience ambition, their lives can change drastically. Macbeth describes how his life begins to change when his ambition brings guilt into his life: “will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood / clean from my hand” (II.ii.78-79). Shakespeare describes how ambition can lead to unavoidable regret. Macbeth takes many lives, and will never rid himself of his victims’ blood. However,
In Macbeth, William Shakespeare presents ambition as a dangerous quality and urges individuals to restrain it. It brings individuals intellectual chaos, causing them to become the victim of their own ambition. Individuals who lose themselves in ambition may destroy stable relationships and lose their morals. When people commit terrible deeds, that act will forever mark and taint them and forever change them to a point of no return. Ambition also prevents one from thinking rationally and making the correct
After Frankenstein discovered the source of human life, he became wholly absorbed in his experimental creation of a human being. Victor's unlimited ambition, his desire to succeed in his efforts to create life, led him to find devastation and misery. "...now that I have finished, the beauty of the dream had vanished..." (Shelley 51). Victor's ambition blinded him to see the real dangers of his project. This is because ambition is like a madness, which blinds one self to see the dangers of his actions. The monster after realizing what a horror he was demanded that victor create him a partner. "I now also began to collect the materials necessary for my new creation, and this was like torture..." (Shelley 169). Victor's raw ambition, his search for glory, has left him. His eyes have been opened to see his horrible actions, and what have and could become of his creations. As a result, Victor has realized that he is creating a monster, which could lead to the downfall of mankind. His choice is simple, save his own life or save man.
Ambition is a valuable quality to possess but when used for the wrong reason it can be detrimental. Throughout the novel Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein, an inspired scientist, uses his ambition to fuel his creative work. Macbeth, the brave soldier in the play Macbeth, displays a great need for power. With his ambition thriving, he will do anything to be in charge. Victor Frankenstein and Macbeth, both aggressive men, display an extreme sense of ambition leading them to ultimately go insane. The urgency for recognition both becomes and obsession over time and negatively influences the decisions they make.