The Danger of Knowledge (Comparative essay Frankenstein vs Macbeth
The Danger of Knowledge
Aaron Rudyk
6/18/2013
Mr. Brown
ENG 3U
In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth and Mary Shelly’s novel Frankenstein it can be said that both protagonists come to an unfortunate end. What leads to Macbeth and Frankenstein’s premature demise? Victor Frankenstein and Macbeth both demonstrate that acquisition of knowledge is dangerous and to seek it for the purpose of power leads to destruction of life. Macbeth’s and Frankenstein’s knowledge leads to overwhelming ambition, to immoral decisions and the destruction of their reality.
Firstly knowledge leads to overpowering ambition. In the first act Macbeth is well-liked, King Duncan gloats: “He is full so valiant / and is a peerless kinsman” (1.4.56-60) and in doing so shows that Macbeth is regarded as an honest and valiant warrior. By the end of the first act Macbeth’s ambition becomes a problem. The Witches share the knowledge that Macbeth “shalt be king hereafter!” (1.3.52). For Macbeth the knowledge that he is to be king intrigues him but he thinks he has to kill the king to become the king. Macbeth weighs his options: “Duncan…hath been / so clear in his great office, that his virtues / will plead like angels… I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself / And falls on th' other.” (1.7.16-23). Macbeth thinks King Duncan is a good man and the only thing that motivates Macbeth to kill Duncan is ambition fueled by acquired knowledge. Contrastingly Frankenstein gains his knowledge not through witchcraft but books and facts while studying science at the University of Ingolstadt. Frankenstein says: “One man's life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge which I sought, for the dominion I should acquire and transmit over the of our race” (Shelly 12) which shows that he thinks his knowledge is worth more than the lives of others. Furthermore Frankenstein seeks the power to
Aaron Rudyk
6/18/2013
Mr. Brown
ENG 3U
In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth and Mary Shelly’s novel Frankenstein it can be said that both protagonists come to an unfortunate end. What leads to Macbeth and Frankenstein’s premature demise? Victor Frankenstein and Macbeth both demonstrate that acquisition of knowledge is dangerous and to seek it for the purpose of power leads to destruction of life. Macbeth’s and Frankenstein’s knowledge leads to overwhelming ambition, to immoral decisions and the destruction of their reality.
Firstly knowledge leads to overpowering ambition. In the first act Macbeth is well-liked, King Duncan gloats: “He is full so valiant / and is a peerless kinsman” (1.4.56-60) and in doing so shows that Macbeth is regarded as an honest and valiant warrior. By the end of the first act Macbeth’s ambition becomes a problem. The Witches share the knowledge that Macbeth “shalt be king hereafter!” (1.3.52). For Macbeth the knowledge that he is to be king intrigues him but he thinks he has to kill the king to become the king. Macbeth weighs his options: “Duncan…hath been / so clear in his great office, that his virtues / will plead like angels… I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself / And falls on th' other.” (1.7.16-23). Macbeth thinks King Duncan is a good man and the only thing that motivates Macbeth to kill Duncan is ambition fueled by acquired knowledge. Contrastingly Frankenstein gains his knowledge not through witchcraft but books and facts while studying science at the University of Ingolstadt. Frankenstein says: “One man's life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge which I sought, for the dominion I should acquire and transmit over the of our race” (Shelly 12) which shows that he thinks his knowledge is worth more than the lives of others. Furthermore Frankenstein seeks the power to