An evil lives within us all, just waiting to emerge. In the books Frankenstein and Macbeth, the two main characters begin and end the story as two completely different people, drastically changed by their actions and surroundings. Ignorance and knowledge being two recurring themes in the book Frankenstein and the play Macbeth, the two themes are polar opposites, yet work well together when comparing and contrasting these two readings. Both Macbeth and Frankenstein suffer from either an abundance, or lack thereof, of knowledge; the epitome of their downfall throughout the storylines. Both characters are monstrous in their own ways, while at the same time being drastically different. In both stories, the main characters’ hunger for
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In the beginning, Macbeth has doubts about going through with his murderous plans, but eventually ignores his apprehensions. He completely transforms into a dishonorable, inhuman, and monstrous character almost immediately after that. He starts to find his best friend since childhood, Banquo, a threat to his power, and sends to have him murdered. He views Banquo from “such bloody distance that every minute of his being thrusts against my near’st of life... (To leave no rubs nor botches in the work) Fleance, his son, that keeps him company, whose a sense is no less material to me than of his father’s, must embrace the fate of that dark hour... It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight, if it find Heaven, must find it out tonight” (Act 3, page 90). The thought of Macbeth actually murdering his best friend, who's been there with him through it all, is unfathomable. There is; however, the slightest trace of his old self in this action, because he sends people to do it for him; he couldn't stand the thought of murdering his best friend with his own hands. **quote #2** While Macbeth continues to fall throughout the play, Frankenstein, conversely, seems to rise above his mistakes. Although he was repressed by ignorance and irresponsibility, he learns from his mistakes, and attempts to better himself and those around him, rather than giving up completely, and continue to fall into despair. He advises the reader to, “learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspired to become greater than his nature will allow” (2). Frankenstein admits that he wishes he'd never had the knowledge to create something that
In the beginning, Macbeth has doubts about going through with his murderous plans, but eventually ignores his apprehensions. He completely transforms into a dishonorable, inhuman, and monstrous character almost immediately after that. He starts to find his best friend since childhood, Banquo, a threat to his power, and sends to have him murdered. He views Banquo from “such bloody distance that every minute of his being thrusts against my near’st of life... (To leave no rubs nor botches in the work) Fleance, his son, that keeps him company, whose a sense is no less material to me than of his father’s, must embrace the fate of that dark hour... It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight, if it find Heaven, must find it out tonight” (Act 3, page 90). The thought of Macbeth actually murdering his best friend, who's been there with him through it all, is unfathomable. There is; however, the slightest trace of his old self in this action, because he sends people to do it for him; he couldn't stand the thought of murdering his best friend with his own hands. **quote #2** While Macbeth continues to fall throughout the play, Frankenstein, conversely, seems to rise above his mistakes. Although he was repressed by ignorance and irresponsibility, he learns from his mistakes, and attempts to better himself and those around him, rather than giving up completely, and continue to fall into despair. He advises the reader to, “learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspired to become greater than his nature will allow” (2). Frankenstein admits that he wishes he'd never had the knowledge to create something that