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Frankenstein Unchecked Ambition Essay

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Human ambition is a powerful force that can drive individuals to achieve their goals, but it can also lead to their downfall. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and William Shakespeare's
Macbeth are two literary works that explore the theme of ambition and its consequences. In this essay, unchecked ambition will be explored through the characters of Victor Frankenstein and
Macbeth to demonstrate how human ambition must be controlled. Through the examination of the theme of ambition in Frankenstein and Macbeth, it becomes certain that unchecked ambition can lead to corruption, moral decay, and tragic outcomes for the characters involved.
Both Frankenstein and Macbeth show the excitement that ambition holds for Victor
Frankenstein and Macbeth. …show more content…

His disregard for consequences and his obsessive desire to gain godlike power corrupt what was once the pursuit of knowledge. Similarly in Macbeth, the ambition that initially pushes Macbeth to greatness becomes an evil force over time. Lady Macbeth says, "Nought's had, all's spent, where our desire is got without content," (Shakespeare, 3.2.6-7). This quote clearly shows the impact of Macbeth's unchecked ambition, which left him empty and disappointed after getting what he wanted. Macbeth's ambition corrupts his sense of right and wrong, leading him to commit crimes and lose his relationships and personal happiness in the process. Ultimately, both Frankenstein and Macbeth highlight the terrible consequences that follow the constant pursuit of ambition, highlighting the price the characters pay for their choices. In Frankenstein, Victor's ambitious quest to play God leads to the destruction of his loved ones and his suffering on the inside. Victor thinks, "I have murdered the lovely and the helpless; I have strangled the innocent as they slept, and grasped to death his throat who …show more content…

Similarly, in Macbeth, the consequences of Macbeth's ambition are far-reaching. His continuing pursuit of power leads to sequences of violence, betrayal, and the destruction of trust.
Macbeth says, "I bear a charmed life, which must not yield to one of woman born,"
(Shakespeare, 5.8.12-13), as he accepts his coming defeat. This quotation emphasizes the final cost of Macbeth's ambition as he experiences his sad end and the loss of everything he once treasured. In conclusion, Frankenstein and Macbeth provide important understandings of the complex nature of ambition. Victor Frankenstein and Macbeth are both initially attracted by promises of ambition because they are driven by their desire for power. However, as their stories continue, their ambition corrupts them, leading to their downfall and the destruction of their lives. These works serve as powerful reminders by showing the allure, corruption, and effects of ambition. Victor's relentless quest for knowledge and creation, along with Macbeth's desire to ascend to kingship, show the nature of ambition. Frankenstein and Macbeth both highlight

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