What Are The Similarities Between Frankenstein And Macbeth

Everything you wanted, gone in an instant. Throughout the works of Frankenstein and Macbeth, Victor and Macbeth strive for knowledge and power. These ambitions and greed for more and more drives them in to ruining their lives. Mary Shelley’s 1818 gothic science fiction novel Frankenstein and William Shakespeare’s 1606 tragedy play Macbeth use the similar theme of how greed for power and knowledge can lead to downfall through symbolism, characterization, and diction to demonstrate.
Mary Shelly shows her readers how the path of ambition leads to downfall through diction and symbolism in Frankenstein. While Victor is talking to Walton, he says, “Unhappy man! Do you share my madness? Have you drunk also of the intoxicating draught? Hear me – let

Measurement and framing effects shape the association between scientists and immorality", downfall due to ambition is explained in Frankenstein with the use of characterization and diction. Irene’s text states, “Frankenstein can also be considered together with Goethe's Faust, a scientist with uncontrollable ambitions…The characters and plots allow us to reflect on the limits of human behavior, what is and what is not permissible in scientific research, and whether these bioethical limits are time-dependent or should never be violated”(Cambra-Badii & Irene et al 1-2). Mary Shelley uses characterization to show that Victor is so ambitious for his science experiment that he is willing to break the rules of biological ethics. Victor is so ambitious to create the monster until he actually completes his task. The monster becomes his biggest problem and leads him to his fate. Victor proves to himself that too much knowledge and pushing bioethical limits can be very dangerous. Rutgens states, “Others have suggested that scientists are perceived as having an unhealthy ambition in the pursuit of (forbidden) knowledge, which makes them potentially mad and dangerous [9,22,23]”(Rutjens & Bastiaaan et al 8-9).The author uses diction to prove Victor’s ambition. Some of the words

The symbol of hospitality represents ambition in Macbeth. Hosting meals back in the day stood for higher status. Macbeth’s ambition for status was led by his large important meals he would host for his guests. Afzal states, “Banquo forewarns him that the witches usually trick men. Macbeth initially is aware of the ramifications of this disclosure but when he learns that he has been made the new Thane of Cawdor, the timing of the recent honor fuels his greed. Macbeth in a very significant aside remarks, “Glamis and Thane of Cawdor: / The greatest is behind.” (I iii 117). He then begins to dream of being King, that in order to do so he has to kill Duncan, to whom he had been loyal so long is swept aside as a necessary deed. Macbeth is aware of the dangers of overzealous ambition: “I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself / And falls on th’other” (I vii 25-28). But the temptation to render the witches’ prophecy into reality ultimately proves to be too strong for Macbeth to curb his ambition”(Afzal 319). Characterization is used in Macbeth to show what kind of person Macbeth is. The text is describing that Macbeth can’t live with being Thane, even though it is a proud accomplishment. His greed for status overtakes him and