Macbeth by Shakespeare and Crime and Punishment by Dostoyevsky explore the psychological depths of man. These two works examine tragedy as it is represented through the existential beliefs of many philosophers. Existentialist theory expresses the idea that man can satisfy his own needs, regardless of social codes, if he has the energy and ambition to act. Both Macbeth and Raskolnikov have the ambition to act, but each struggles internally against their actions, afraid of the consequences. Although these works examine the tragedy and remorse of Macbeth and Raskolnikov, the idea of ​​a driving force within each character remains evident. Ultimately, William Shakespeare's Macbeth and Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment present similar aspects of existential philosophy that examine the thoughts and actions of both protagonists. The existential principle remains apparent in these works. The themes of existentialism vary, but one of the main goals is that man calms himself by acting on his desires. Ignorance and emptiness permeate human existence, creating anxiety, awe, and discouragement (Moore & Bruder 503). And man is confronted, as the most important fact of human existence, with the necessity of deciding how he should live in this “absurd and irrational world” (Moore & Bruder 504). “Macbeth” employs many existentialist concepts. Macbeth's murder of Duncan to obtain his kingship reflects a fundamental existentialist philosophy in that he removed his obstacles in order to achieve his ambition (Gellrich 17). The witches who constantly taunt Macbeth lead him to his ultimate goal (Craig 255). Dostoyevsky also employs an existentialist philosophy in his novel. The “set of unconscious impulses” (Cox 42) that push Raskolnikov to commit his crime... middle of paper ......d Macbeth. Shakespeare and Dostoyevsky create characters who decide their own existence. The tragedy of these protagonists is the direct consequence of their actions. After each commits their murder, an uneasy feeling enters the bodies of Macbeth and Raskolnikov, ultimately leading to their downfall. Brian Duffy of US News & World Reports likened Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski to "a Dostoyevsky character" (30), commenting on Dostoyevsky's criminal ingenuity. Shakespeare's "Macbeth" idealizes the tragic hero whose absurd actions bring destruction. These two masterpieces examine “redemption through suffering” (Wasiolek 2) which dramatizes the philosophical principles of existentialism. Works Cited: Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Literature: an introduction to fiction, poetry and drama. Ed. XJ Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 7th ed. New York: Longman, 1999.