Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Marry Shelley’s Frankenstein were written in different periods. Macbeth’s goal is to become king by committing murder, while Frankenstein wants to create something ingenious and unique, something that will make him famous and push the boundaries of science. At first sight, it may seem there are few parallels between the two works. Despite this, the characters in both situations pursued a goal that may easily lead to compromise and disaster, namely, power. Denoting this, there are many similarities both characters share that make them both charismatic and robust figures.
The way the protagonists treat their loved ones, those they hold dear, is one of the most significant distinctions between the two novels. In the case of Frankenstein, he separates himself from his loved ones to develop the monster. Meanwhile, lady Macbeth, Macbeth’s beloved, was intimately involved in and even inspired some of his heinous acts.
In several aspects, the objectives of the ‘monsters’ in each narrative are remarkably similar. Macbeth’s quest in Shakespeare’s story was for power. His absolute passion and effort were focused on becoming and remaining king, which appears when he states, “Stars, conceal your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires” (Shakespeare, 1992). Although Macbeth had regarded authority in his kingdom, his taste, the power made him desire more.
Meanwhile, Frankenstein’s objective is simple – to gain control over death. This can be seen when he says, “I will leader a new way, explore unidentified powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of production” (Shelley, 1818). He succeeds in bringing life to an end, but he fails to consider the long-term ramifications of his deeds, resulting in far more death than life.
After examining these two texts more closely and comparing them, it can be seen that they have certain parallels and differences. The search for power is what both Macbeth and Frankenstein are on throughout the stories. However, the characters have different approaches to their loved ones. As a result, while “Macbeth” and “Frankenstein” have different missions and fatal defects, their treatment of their loved ones is vastly different.
References
Shakespeare, W. (1992). Macbeth. Wordsworth Editions.
Shelley, M. W. (1818). Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones.