Existential Choices in Macbeth and Hamlet

Abstract

Macbeth and Hamlet are the great tragedies of William Shakespeare. Much has been written on these plays and also on other plays of Shakespeare from different perspectives. My perception here is Existentialist. In these tragedies we notice extraordinary choices made by the main characters and their destruction as the consequences of them. Macbeth was over ambitious and this was the basic factor behind his gradual decline and destruction. Under the influence of his vaulting ambitions, he made choices which were not in accordance with Universal Morality or Ethics. In the case of Hamlet, we come across a very hard choice that is to live a life of a coward or to fight against the evil forces as a hero. The first choice of Hamlet can lead him a life of passivity but security and the second choice lead him to a life of bravery but with lot of dangers. This article is an attempt to understand and share the universal message behind these great tragedies of the world.