Ambition In Macbeth And Shelly's Frankenstein

In both Shakespeare 's Macbeth and Shelly 's Frankenstein, Macbeth and Victor are both represented as very ambitious men. Macbeth and Victor have complicated ambitions that they both achieve but in very crucial ways. Macbeth 's ambition is to become the king of Scotland whereas Victor 's ambition is to reanimate the dead. However, both of the stories took place in very different time periods Macbeth was written it the 17th century when religion was very important whereas Frankenstein was written in the 19th century when science was a very popular study and fought religion.
In act 1 of Shakespeare 's Macbeth, we learn that Macbeth is regarded as a brave and fearless person when in battle. The sergeant says "brave Macbeth well he deserves that …show more content…
His sword is described as smoking "with bloody execution". Shakespeare uses powerful imagery of a sword steaming with blood of those who he has killed showing he is violent. The sergeant further tells us that Macbeth "unseam 'd" one soldier from the nave of the chaps. He opened him up from his navel to the chin. This is another brutal image of violence attached to Macbeth. Although Macbeth does not seem like a villain in act 1, Shakespeare foreshadows the brutal murders that he later commits with the powerful images. When Macbeth becomes Thane of Cawdor, his wife Lady Macbeth persuades him to kill king Duncan so that Macbeth can become king. On the other hand Macbeth is very honoured that he became Thane of Cawdor and does not want to kill king Duncan. Lady Macbeth calls Macbeth a "coward" meaning he is just scared. To prove his wife wrong he ends up killing king Duncan but almost immediately regrets it. This sinful act causes Macbeth to feel really guilty to the point where he can not even say "Amen" after he hears someone say "God bless us". Another way of seeing he is guilty is that he hears a voice inside his head saying "Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep, the innocent sleep". This is signifying Macbeth is no longer innocent and will not be able to sleep peacefully knowing he is the one who killed king Duncan of …show more content…
The witches predicted Macbeth would become Thane of Cawdor and eventually king of Scotland. At this point Macbeth does not believe the witches up until he went home and instantly got called Thane of Cawdor. From then on he believed what the witches had to say including becoming king. Later in the play when Macbeth became king, he killed his friend Banquo because he was the only one who heard what the witches said and was afraid he would suspect something. During a feast that was hosted by the Macbeth 's, Macbeth sees the ghost of Banqo and acts very frightened in front of his entire guests which makes the guests very confused . Although when they leave Lady Macbeth is left with anger and humiliation. "you lack the seasons of all natures, sleep". Lady Macbeth says this to Macbeth after the feast. "all natures sleep" is meaning Macbeth has not had sleep in a while and that he should get some . In act 4 scene 1 Macbeth goes back to the witches to find out more about his future. "for none of women born shall harm Macbeth". Macbeth had gained back his courage to the point where he thinks he is more powerful than the witches. "an eternal curse fall on you". Usually its the witches who would normally curse someone but in this role reverse Macbeth is cursing the