How do Shakespeare and Shelly present the flaw of hubris in Macbeth and in

Frankenstein?
Neither Macbeth nor Frankenstein is comprehensively evil and in fact, at the start of
both the play and novel respectively, both characters are presented as brave and
show acts of courage and loyalty. These views of the characters are shattered by
their pretentious ambitions and their extensive flaw of hubris. These blemishes in
their characters are ultimately what leads to their downfall and not only their own
deaths, but the deaths of their loved ones. Macbeth is a play set during Jacobean
Scotland and Frankenstein during Georgian times. In both these periods of time, the
communities were laboriously restrained by their views on religion and status which
influenced the actions of Macbeth and Frankenstein. In the end both characters
conform to the characteristics of a tragic hero, where the character starts as a hero
but has a major flaw which ultimately destroys them.
Victor Frankenstein is a character seriously flawed by hubris and his need to act like
God. It is evident from the start of the novel that Frankenstein is so absorbed by the
thought of the glory he would receive from his creation, that he fails to see his
flaws. Frankensteins desire to learn the secrets of heaven and earth display his
flaw of hubris clearly as it is evident that Frankenstein is attempting to acquire
knowledge that is out of his reach- more knowledge than is permitted to be
understood by God. This exhibits a direct link with Eve, who not unlike Frankenstein,
pursued knowledge that was not allowed by God, which in the end led to her
downfall. Through Shellys use of biblical references, it is made coherent that it is
this flaw in Frankenstein that ultimately leads to his destruction.
Similarly in Macbeth, Shakespeare adds a couple of well-placed biblical innuendos
suggest that Macbeth had a comparable predicament when it came to following
Gods wishes, however, Macbeth seems more aware of his wrong-doings that
Frankenstein. Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it advocates
references to the devil in the creation story of Adam and Eve. The use of
juxtaposition in this phrase is strong as it may reference to Macbeths dilemma with
his conscience or that he has finally consorted to evil and has decided to act
innocent whilst being the serpent. This displays Macbeths tendency to realize
his mistake but still act in the incorrect way displaying his hubris. Moreover, it is
presented that it is Macbeths selfish proclivities and realization of these tendencies,
but his declination to stop this behavior is what ultimately lead to Macbeths
downfall. Mine eternal jewel given to the common enemy of man. Shakespeares
use of common enemy of man shows more biblical references to the devil. It
shows that Macbeth has realized his mistake and given his soul to the common
enemy of man: the devil. Shakespeare has intelligently used biblical references to
display the flaw of hubris and selfishness through Macbeth. Selfishness is displayed
through his refusal to stop killing even subsequently realizing his mistake which
clearly exhibits his self-centeredness.

Furthermore, Frankenstein pride in him caused him to place himself in the role of
God, who was thought of as the creator of everything at the time; as a creator of
beings. This went strongly against the natural order of things as it was believed
during the Georgian times that God was all powerful and no-one should try to act
like God. It was also during these times that science was a topic that was
controversial and many felt that participating in science as an act against God.
Frankenstein, however, is portrayed as a character so full of self-importance that he
wanted to create a creature that would bless him as its creator. The use of the
verb bless suggests that Frankenstein didnt even think that his actions were bad
making him appear selfish and self-involved. It suggests that all Frankenstein
wanted was for something to worship him further displaying his flaw of hubris.
Frankenstein also seeks the admiration of the university which shows that all he
wants is recognition and fame.
In addition to this, it is evident that Macbeth understood the crimes that he was
committing against God by killing the king. It was believed at the time that killed
the king is directly plotting against God. Macbeth is seen recognizing this when he
says hed jump the life to come if he killed Duncan- meaning hed go to hell.
Macbeth however goes against his own conscience. Instead of waiting for the
prophecy of the witches to come true, he manipulates the course of his events. This
is also clear when Macbeth says Stars hide your fires; let not light see my black
and deep desires. This shows that Macbeth understands his wrongdoings. The use
of the colour black displays a connotation of evil and danger. The use of the word
light juxtaposed with black suggests that he doesnt want the light in the
world to witness his wrongdoings. The use of powerful alliteration in deep desires
suggests that the thoughts hes having are not going to end well for anyone. It also
displays his selfishness as he doesnt seem to want to stop his wrong doings even
after realizing his errors.
Due to the actions of Frankenstein and Macbeth, other people start to suffer
because of them. In Frankenstein, the creature that he created suffered horribly. The
creature tell Frankenstein that he ought to be thy Adam, but I am the fallen angel.
Shelly uses this metaphor of the devil to show comparisons of the creature to the
devil. It shows that the creature could have ended up as a good person, but the
under the circumstances he was put under and Frankenstein rejecting him, turned
him evil. The creature expresses in his meeting with Frankenstein that he suffered
because his creator detests and spurned him. The creature feels even more
rejected as he makes comparisons between himself and Adam. Adam, despite his
mistakes was still loved and had an eve to sooth his sorrows, unlike the creature
that had no-one and he was wretched, helpless and alone. The use of a list of
three is effective in this instance as it exhibits the extreme pain and loneliness that
he went through. Not only did the creature suffer for the actions of Frankenstein, but
the entirety of the Frankenstein family and friends suffered.

In Macbeth, not only do certain people suffer for what Macbeth inflicted, but the
entire country of Scotland suffers. Malcom shows this when he says I think our
country sinks beneath the yoke. This demonstrates the suffering of Scotland. The
use of the phrase sinks beneath the yoke suggests that Scotland is slipping out
under their feet and suggests that the country is helpless under the reign of
Macbeth. New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows strike further shows to
us the suffering of Scotland. The use of strong nouns such as howl and cry
presents to us the extreme state of the land. Macduff is also the unfortunate victim
to the pain Macbeth causes. As Macduff suspected Macbeth to be behind the Kings
murder, Macbeth has Macduffs family murdered. When Macduff finds out he asks
All my pretty ones? Did you say all? All? The use of repletion of all suggests that
Macduff cannot believe that one person can cause all of this pain and cannot
fathom that his family is dead. It shows that Macduff is delirious and is seriously
suffering because of Macbeth.

Both Macbeth and Frankenstein are eventually punished through madness, the
death of loved ones and finally by their own deaths. Macbeth suffers a great deal.
He becomes paranoid after he kills Banquo and imagines his ghost during the
banquet. His behavior is most likely stated from his guilt of killing the King and
reached a breaking point once he kills again. Macbeth also goes through different
forms of madness. He feels as if his mind is full of scorpions. The use of
scorpions suggests that his thoughts are stinging him in a fatal manner that is
similar of that of a scorpion. It shows that after he has committed the murders and
turned against God, that he cant find peace within his own mind. In addition to this,
Macbeth also suffered from despair for his life. In Macbeths soliloquy he sates:
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow. The long vowel sounds in the words
Tomorrow reflects that his life has been dragging on and on and he cant wait for
it to stop. He feels as if his life is but a walking shadow which suggests that his life
so far has been unsubstantial like a shadow.
In Frankenstein after Frankenstein rejects the creature that he created, the creature
takes revenge against him by killing his family. After the murder of his brother and
the death of Justine, Frankenstein is tempted to plunge into the silent lake. This
suggests that he wanted to kill himself. This is him showing despair as punishment
for his sins. The use of the word plunge suggests how grave the situation was and
the depth of the despair that Frankenstein was feeling. During the novel,
Frankenstein suffers from a form of madness whenever something horrifying
happens to his family and friends. He continually lost sensation of his
surroundings and suffers from grave illnesses. The final and worst part of
Frankensteins despair was the death of his wife, Elizabeth and he sees her lifeless
and inanimate body and this is the last straw for him before he himself dies from
exhaustion.

At the end of the play, Macbeth, Macbeth is seen taking full responsibly for his
actions and dies an honorable death. It is here where it becomes evident that
Macbeth is tragic hero when he accepts full responsibility and refuses to kill Macduff
at the end even though it results in this own death. He states that his blood is too
much charged with the blood of thine which suggests that he is already burdened
by the deaths of those he killed before and doesnt want to add to it further. It is
also clear at the end of the play that Macduff regrets having done what he has and
recognizes his faults. As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to
have suggests that Macbeth regrets not having these qualities during his life. He
talks about the troubles his heart has been through and it cant be fixed. It is clear
through this however that Macbeth died a valiant death.
Frankenstein, on the other hand, is a little more complex. He doesnt seem to fully
accept his guilt before he dies but does accept some responsibly for his actions. At
the start of the novel, when Frankenstein is talking to Walton, it is evident that he
realizes his mistake of acting like God with his inferences to the serpent from
Gods creation story. The use of sibilance sounds in serpent to sting you
demonstrates danger; this suggests that trying to act like God can lead to these
disastrous situations. However when he is dying he states that he doesnt find his
actions blamable. This shows that Frankenstein is still not accepting his full
responsibility and blames his actions on fate. However, he does accept
responsibility for the creature as he realizes that it was his duty to the creature
and advises Walton to avoid ambition which shows that he has accepted this flaw
of his.