After reading Macbeth and The Tragic History of Doctor Faustus, it is obvious that the two main characters are very similar. Their journey and their tragic destiny are almost the same. I will look at the characteristics and desires they have in common, the symbols and people who influence them, and some of the differences between them. When we look at Macbeth and Faustus at the beginning of the play, they appear as positive heroic figures. Macbeth is a brave warrior who plays an important role in a battle and Faustus is a successful and intelligent scholar with much potential. Both wanted something more. Macbeth became a Thane of Cawdor and Glamis, but he wanted to become king. Faustus had knowledge that he learned from books, but he still wanted to know everything about God and magic. We must ask ourselves why this is not enough for them. First, we can look at some of Macbeth's reasons. Macbeth received many awards for his achievements, but he believed he deserved an even greater title. He was also controlled by his wife and it was her idea to kill King Duncan. “When you dared to do it, then you were a man / And to be more than you were, you would be / You would be much more of a man” Lady Macbeth says that Macbeth is not a real man if he doesn't have the courage to do it. . It is obvious that he is sensitive about his manhood and wants to prove himself as a husband, a man and a warrior. Lady Macbeth uses her weakness to achieve the goal. He commits this crime for her because she is too sensitive to kill him herself. He acts as a protector of his wife and as a true man. It's ironic that he is so brave and protective, but at the same time he is weak and afraid of his future because he heard the prophecy from three witches. Because Faustus, the reason lies in his s...... middle of paper ...... ect of the desire of men. She appears after Faustus wishes her and gives her a kiss. He didn't ask for any advice or help, he just wanted a kiss to comfort him. During the Renaissance, women were not involved in science, art, or literature, so it is no wonder that Faustus saw Helen only as a beautiful woman. To conclude, I think both of these characters were weak because they couldn't resist temptations. Macbeth could not resist the power predicted for him and Faustus wanted it forbidden. Their fall was inevitable because everything they did was against God. Works Cited Marlowe, Christopher. “Doctor Faustus.” Norton Anthology of English Literature, Vol. 1B. Edited by MH Abrams and Stephen Greenblatt. New York: WW Norton and Co. 2000. 991-1023. Shakespeare, William and John Wilders. Macbeth. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge UP, 2004. Print.