Macbeth Essay On Power

Essay On Macbeth And Power
Some people allow avarice and power to take over their life. Even if you think of yourself and
others think of you as good, power can change that. Before the murder, Macbeth showed bravery,
kindness, ambition and imagination. He also didn't really fear anything or anyone. Throughout the
story his state of mind changes and he thinks of himself as invincible. He shows his lack of care for
his family and friends as well. Macbeth puts his mind to the test and decides to turn his caring heart
into a crazy disaster. Macbeth was known by lady macbeth to be a well respected, devoted husband
and a loyal subject to the king. Although, Lady Macbeth was not at all innocent. She stripped him of
his manhood by saying "Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me...show more
content...
He became enraged and too corageous. He started taking lives left and right because he was told
he couldn't be killed. After this, he began to kill anyone that got in his way. This shows how even
though he may be strong in bravery and ambition, he was too weak to conquer his own self doubt
and stand up against his wife. In the beginning he would allow Lady Macbeth to take away his
manhood and belittle him. After he murders Duncan he feels so much more power. He leaves
behind all of his good traits as a loving and devoted husband and leaves his family to go on a
murder rampage. Macbeth may have been a coward and very gullible for listening to his wife and
following through with the plan to kill Duncan but as the story goes on he continues to show his
ambition to kill and only a little few signs of remorse. He shows remorse for the murder of
duncan once he imagines the bloody dagger and in the last battle with Macduff he shows his
remorse for the murder of Macduff's family. After all, Macbeth was never loyal to anyone but
himself he was motivated by greed and he let that take a hold of him. But in the end, he still died
like a brave
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Essay on The Influence of Power in Macbeth
In The Tragedy of Macbeth, the most prevailing theme is the shift in power in the relationships of
the central character. The main character of the play, Macbeth, experiences a shift in control of his
relationships as he gains more power. Duncan is the most unlikely character to be killed because of
his personality, but because he is the King of Scotland, Macbeth loathes him. In the play there is
very interaction between Macbeth and Duncan, showing the little time in which Macbeth gets more
power. Prior to the witches' prophecies Macbeth is loyal to Duncan, and would never imagine killing
him. After the one of the witches' prophecies comes to be true, the thought of killing Duncan,
Macbeth "yield[s] to that suggestion / whose horrid...show more content...
Macbeth understands that the witches "have more in them than mortal knowledge," and his trust
in the witches is made stronger because out of the three prophecies, "two truths are told" (1.5.3)
(1.3.140). If it hadn't been for the prophecy that the witches gives to Banquo and Macbeth, Lady
Macbeth would never persuade Macbeth into killing Duncan to become King; and Macbeth never
would plot to kill Banquo as a result of jealousy because of Banquo's prophecy, and mistrust of
Banquo after Macbeth kills Duncan. Macbeth relies on the witches throughout the play. Knowing
that his sins are so large and he is "in blood / Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more," he
knows that he must consult the witches again because he knows they will give him advice, and
confidence for him to continue making poor decisions. (3.4.169) Again the witches manipulate
Macbeth even more, by showing him three apparitions, that make him feel over confident about his
bright future as king. These apparitions give Macbeth false confidence, and will result in him
making a decision that leads him to failure. So when he finds out these predictions he damns "all
those that trust them", ironically damning him, because he has trust in the witches up until this
point. (4.1.158) The only reason why Macbeth ever trusts and wants the witches' prophecies is so he
can gain more confidence and feel more powerful.

The Power Of Macbeth
In Shakespeare's play Macbeth, the main character's goal is to become the king. Macbeth seeks to
gain as much power as he possibly can and this ultimately leads to his demise. He hears the
prophecy of the witches and becomes so obsessed with fulfilling the prophecy because it states that
he will eventually become king. Having this information, Macbeth goes out of his way to force the
prophecy to come true. He becomes so power hungry that he tries to force fate leaving him with an
undeniable guilt for his actions, the loss of love from the people who once loved him, and a harsh
death in the end.
In the beginning of the play, the witches make three prophecies. First, that Macbeth will become
the Thane of Cawdor. The second part of the prophecy is that Macbeth will become King. The
third prophecy being that Banquo will be father to future kings. When Macbeth first hears the
prophecy, Duncan holds the position as king. King duncan is also a very loved king by his people.
Macbeth and Duncan even have a good relationship. Macbeth is Duncan's greatest war hero and
because of Macbeth's great success in battle, Duncan rewards him by promoting him to the position
of Thane of Cawdor. With this promotion, Macbeth realizes that the witches first prophecy was true.
With this realization, Macbeth's head begins to fill with thoughts of killing King Duncan to speed
up the process so that he can become king. When he tells his wife of the prophecies and his
promotion, she becomes extremely

Macbeth Abuse Power Essay
Macbeth: The Abuse of Power In William Shakespeare's tragedy of Macbeth, a Scottish noble
along with his wife Lady Macbeth, crave absolute power, which prompts them to do terrible deeds
that eventually lead to their demise. As well as the malicious rulers, we have those who have
authority, but use their power in beneficial ways, portraying them as just rulers. The play displays
the fair ruling ways of King Duncan; the kind heart of Macduff; the mischievous and abusive actions
of Lady Macbeth; the tyrant ways of Macbeth; and Shakespeare's overall idea of what happens to
those who abuse their power. Ultimately, those who abuse their power, have a downfall in the end.
A character in the play that I would consider to have used their power and...show more content...
These thoughts ultimately didn't bother Macbeth enough, as he did end up killing Duncan, and
replacing him as a malicious ruler. In addition to King Duncan, another character that of which I
saw as a just user of authority is Macduff. We know Macduff as not only the Thane of Fife, but
also the character that goes against the stereotypes of masculinity, showing his emotions and
eventually saving the citizens of Scotland by taking down the unjust king, Macbeth. Macduff is
seen as a hero, as he is the character that unlimitedly saved the country, suspecting Macbeth of
being a tyrant, and traveling to England to find Malcolm and bring him back to Scotland, to
dethrone Macbeth. Another reason that he is seen as a hero, is because he is the one that killed
Macbeth himself. He used his power and authority to gather a army from England to bring back to
Scotland to defeat Macbeth, but he made sure that he was the one who killed the King himself, to
get revenge for Macbeth killing his entire innocent family. Similarly to King Duncan, Macduff only
kills others for good reason, and revenge. This in contrast to Macbeth and even Lady Macbeth, who
kill others, who are innocent, for their own selfish reasons. A moment in the play where the
audience feels satisfaction, as a result of Macduff's fair choices is when Macduff kills Macbeth in
battle, and declares Malcolm the rightful king:
Hail, King! for so thou art. Behold, where standsвЂЁTh ' usurper 's cursГЁd head. The time is

Power In Macbeth Essay
corrupted by power, which corrupts Macbeth, as is unavoidable, was fate for it to happen.
Macbeth had his and many others lives destroyed after gaining more power, and it was mostly his
fear of losing power that corrupted him. He ultimately could have changed the outcome of his story,
but his demise was fate set in place by three witches.
In the path of Macbeth coming to power, and his need to remain in power, lie the bodies of his former
King Duncan, the chamberlains, Banquo, Macduff's wife and children, Macbeth's own wife, and
Macbeth himself.
After Lady Macbeth hears about the witches' prophesy, she starts to think they should murder
Duncan.
"Glamis thou art , and Cawdor, and shalt be
What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature;
It is too full o'th' milk of human kindness
To...show more content...
In Macbeth, the witches tell Macbeth prophecies about him becoming king.
"All hail Macbeth, thane of Cawdor! All hail Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!"
The first part of the prophecy, Macbeth becoming Thane, happens shortly after without any of the
witches doings. But the second part of the prophecy happens because the withes told Macbeth it
would happen, which started the series of events eventually making all the prophecies come true.
Because the witches told Macbeth he would become king, Lady Macbeth thought the fastest way
for Macbeth to become king would be to kill Duncan. That wouldn't have happened if Lady
Macbeth hadn't been told it was a prophecy for her husband to become king.
It could argued that it was avoidable for all the corruptive events to take place had some of the
characters acted differently. But because of the personalities of the characters, and the witches part
in setting the events in motion, the actions of the characters and their consequences were

Power And Marriage In Macbeth
Power or Marriage Imagine being stuck in a relationship and or marriage with someone you did
not love or like. They are only using you for power that is especially not a true marriage. Every
afternoon you walk through the doors for your house, and you think to yourself, "I am so miserable
in this relationship." The only reason why you are doing this is because of the money, or the job
they can offer you. In the book Macbeth the marriages were not based on affection, they were
established by power. The author is William Shakespeare, it took place in 1606 in Scotland, it was
published in 1623, and it is a tragedy. A good marriage empowered by power rather than fondness
of each other is not a superior marriage. First and Foremost, Lady Macbeth and her perspective of
marriage demonstrate an unhealthy amount of "wearing the pants in the family." Lady Macbeth
tells Macbeth a great deal of what to do. Before they decide to kill Macbeth Lady Macbeth says
"When you durst do it, then you were a man," (I vii 49). She basically says he was a man when he
did want to Kill King Duncan, but now that he doesn't want to assassinate him he isn't a man. She
basically forced Macbeth to kill the King. She convinces him to do whatever to get the crown. If she
has to question his "manhood" that would hit close to home. In that time period, it would be unheard
of for Lady Macbeth to wear the pants in the family because women have little to no respect. That is
why it demonstrates an unhealthy

Essay about Power and Greed
Power and Greed: The Driving Force behind the Story of Macbeth The rise of an individual and
the gain of power can often be intoxicating. This control placed in the hands of one can often
ignite thoughts and actions of greed found deep inside. This can often be seen in the history of
civilization as countless leaders have neglected the good of their people to fuel their own selfish
desires. Lord Acton once expressed, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts
absolutely." This is embodied in the play,Macbeth by William Shakespeare as numerous characters
abuse power to manipulate and destroy the lives of many. Though the examination of, Lady
Macbeth, the three witches and Macbeth, it becomes apparent how the gain and loss of...show more
content...
The corruption of power through knowledge can become large when the sensitivity of this
information is not realized. This is shown in the witches' use of their knowledge of Macbeth's
fate; their consideration for the possible consequences does not seem to be visible throughout the
entire play. This is also pointed out by Hecate in the play as she exclaims: To trade and traffic with
Macbeth In riddles, and affairs of death; And I, the mistress of your charms, The close contriver of
all harms, Was never call'd to bear my part (3.5. 4–9).
The scene shows the three witches lack of consideration of the outcome of their prophecy as they did
not consult with their higher power, Hecate over whether they should tell Macbeth of his prophecy.
Their thoughtless actions caused for many deaths and much corruption amongst themselves and the
entire country of Scotland. The witches' gain of power furthermore corrupted them as they did not
tell Macbeth his full prophecy. When the witches first tell Macbeth of his fate the first witch states,
"All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis!" (1.3. 48–50) This is then followed by the second
witch claiming "all hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!" and finally the third witch states,
"All hail Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter!" the prophecy given can be seen as false as they
suggest that Macbeth is to be king for a long time when they state "hereafter"

MacBeth In the story Macbeth by William Shakespeare, power is a major theme. No one is truly
born corrupt; power emphasizes certain human morals. Some could be good such as doing what is
best for someone's interest, or caring for someone; others could be horrendous such as selfishness, or
performing unethical actions such as cheating to get to a certain position in life. In MacBeth
however, three distinct characters stand out the most: MacBeth, Lady MacBeth and MacDuff.
Power ultimately leads to corruption. For instance, MacBeth and Lady MacBeth are power hungry
thus, leading to corruption. Moreover, MacDuff is considered a "hero" because he is the exact
opposite of MacBeth. MacDuff is a prime example of not being power–hungry; being more
power–hungry leads to more of a chance of corruption.
Firstly, MacBeth's power hungry ego ultimately leads him to his corruption; MacBeth does not in
any way feel any remorse over his kills on the way to becoming a king; for instance, MacBeth
murdered Banquo and his son without feeling any remorse. Macbeth simply killed Banquo and his
son for his own benefit of accelerating the process of him becoming king. Macbeth states, "Upon my
head they placed a fruitless crown
And put a barren scepter in my grip.
Thence to be wrenched with on unlineal hard.
No son of mine succeeding.
If't be so,
For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind." (3.1.63) This quote by

Macbeths Power Essay
Throughout reading the play, Macbeth changes a lot from being a man of loyalty and honesty, to a
man of whom is power hungry and greedy. This shows how the more power you receive the more
power you want; which in many cases, such as this one leads to destruction. Many of the choices
that Macbeth made were influenced by the power that he had, and this power began to take over
him. This then lead to greed and destruction of not only others, but himself as well.
In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is not in a position of authority yet still receives praise.
Although Macbeth is not in a place of power, he is truly content with his life. Macbeth is looked up
to and admired for begin so brave and courageous. In...show more content...
But little did the king know that this taste of power would bring out new dangerous qualities in
Macbeth.
Once Macbeth possessed the power of being Thane of Cawdor he began to exhibit more greed. He
has just been given such a huge responsibility and once he was given new power, he craved more;
especially when he stumbled upon the witches. He liked the power that he had and wanted to gain
more, no matter what he has to do to get it. Macbeth had an encounter with the three witches and
they had told him that he will become the next king. Although the witches did say this it did not
mean that it was certain, it was just a possibility. But when Macbeth realized the opportunity for
power he knew he wanted to become the king. This passage was in part of the letter that Macbeth
wrote to Lady Macbeth: "Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it came missives from the King, who
all–hailed me 'Thane of Cawdor,' by which title, before, these Weird Sisters saluted me and referred
me to the coming on of time with 'Hail, king that shalt be'" (1.5.6–10). . It seems as if the power and
greed now had full control over him, he is doing things that he wouldn't do when he did not have
all this power. This is the first time that we see this side of Macbeth, the side of him that is greedy
for power and is willing to kill the king to do so. In the beginning of the play the thought of being
Thane of Cawdor never even crossed his mind, and by no means being

The Theme Of Power In Act 1 Macbeth
In act one and act two of Macbeth the urge for power is constant. Starting with the witches telling
Macbeth he will become king and ending with Macbeth becoming the King. There's always one
factor constant in each of these happenings, and that is Lady Macbeth. Without Lady Macbeth
pushing him, Macbeth would have not of killed the King.
In act one Macbeth has been told by the witches he would become King. Knowing that the king is
still alive, him and his wife then began thinking of a way that Macbeth would become king. (Act 1,
Scene 7) After discussing the plan of killing the king, Macbeth thinks about not going through with it.
After dinner with the king Macbeth had decided he didn't want to go through with the plan. This is
because he

Essay On Macbeth Power
To Be Powerful
Power is a very dangerous tool, a lot of people wish they were in power, whether it was amongst
others, in life or even to have power over the weather. By nature humans often seek power because
they like to be in control. Throughout the play the only thing lady macbeth was truly concerned
about was being in control. The desire to be in control was what lead to the downfall of Macbeth
because all he could focus on was the thought of being in power.
In Macbeth the first huge display of going to extremes to achieve power was Lady Macbeth trying
her hardest to convince Macbeth to kill King Duncan. She did not think that he would go through
with it and throughout the play there were many times where she had little or no faith in...show more
content...
After Macbeth kills duncan and the knights he begins to go crazy. Macbeth was so corrupt that he
even turned on Banquo who was his close friend. Macbeth was so distraught from killing Banquo
that he hallucinated banquo was at the banquet and Lady Macbeth had to lie and say that Macbeth
had a childhood illness that made him crazy but it was actually his desire to be gain power.
Lastly, Macbeth went even further to try and gain power when he sent the murderers to kill
Macduff's family. He did this because of the witches prophecies about who would become king. At
this point in the story Macbeth seems to be entirely crazy from the crimes he has committed and his
thirst to be king. This ends with Macbeth coming to a tragic death by Macduff all because he tried
to hard to become king.
In conclusion, power in this story is portrayed as a very dangerous thing to have. Lady Macbeth
and Macbeth do anything they can to try and gain control over the kingdom but it just ends badly
for the two to them. Many people can gain power wisley or try to ignorantly and in this case it they
tried to gain it in ignorant

Macbeth and the Power of Persuasion
Persuasion is a powerful and threatening tool against those who are weak. It can sway one's
decisions between good and evil, concealing judgment and jading the conscience. It plays the critical
role of a spectral villain, an invisible danger to the protagonist in William Shakespeare's Macbeth.
Macbeth is a victim of persuasion of others, making him ultimately not responsible for his actions.
Macbeth's own partner Lady Macbeth persuades her husband to commit murder and fulfill his
ambition. The three witches and their Queen influence Macbeth's decisions through the use of
predictions as well as the supernatural. Lastly, the three apparitions conjured by the witches play a
very crucial role in establishing Macbeth's fate through their...show more content...
Persuasion is a process that is effective only on the weak–spirited. When Macbeth learns of his
future, his weaknesses and ambition are exposed to us: "The Prince of Cumberland: that is a step
on which I must fall down, or else o'er–leap, for in my way it lies." (1.4.49–51). Macbeth yearns for
his seat on the throne. He is already a very respectable man. He is the noble, loyal, and worthy
Thane of Glamis (and Cawdor, which he is currently unaware of) as well as a valorous soldier, but
Macbeth is still completely absorbed in the witches' prophecies and even considers killing the
example of innocence and goodness, King Duncan. He is full of greed and ambition, only lacking
the evil to fulfill his lust for the power that resides in the throne of Scotland. These qualities make
Macbeth a weak and easy man to persuade and corrupt, ultimately leading him into madness, his
decline, and lastly his death. Alongside these flaws, the power of the supernatural and man's
weakness of pride will ensure that the fall of Macbeth will be inevitable. Hecate, the Queen of
Witches explains to her subordinates how they will lead him to his doom in this exact fashion:
"And that distilled by magic sleights,
Shall raise such artificial sprites,
As by the strength of their illusion,
Shall draw him on to his confusion.
He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear
His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear;
And you all know security
Is

Divine Power In Macbeth Essay
Macbeth, an ironic tragedy of the 17th century, is perhaps one of the most appraised works by
renowned playwright William Shakespeare. Such fame, though, can be justified through the play's
effective utilization of themes and their evocative subtext; however, Shakespeare particularly
focusses on the theme of power and has done so with intent. Macbeth visualises power in two forms,
being that of divine and supernatural. The play forms a representation that, alike with the
socio–cultural beliefs of the Elizabethan era, divine power should not be tampered with. Otherwise,
the consequences can be detrimental, as demonstrated by the painful ends of characters Macbeth and
Lady Macbeth. Both individuals use the process of illegitimate power to...show more content...
Initially, Macbeth is viewed as a brave and loyal soldier, with Duncan praising him by expressing
that "More is thy due than more than all can pay" (1.4.21). At this point, he has not been influenced
by the three witches. Yet, by Duncan implying his importance, Macbeth gains a sense of self–worth
and this arouses power within. His clear desire to be titled Thane of Cawdor while then having a
growing temptation to commit regicide clearly demonstrate the early stages of his corruption and
forms a basis for utilizing illegitimate power.
Audience becomes aware of Macbeth's corruption when he plans to kill his 'friend', Banquo. He
describes him as "dispatched" (3.4.15), and later as "safe" (3.4.25). This positions the audience to
feel as though Macbeth is somewhat desperate to convince himself that he has acted appropriately
despite using corrupt power. Using this stylistic device of language further demonstrates that
Macbeth has now been corrupted to the extent that he longer feels compassion for his former
companions. This ultimately establishes the representation that Macbeth's illegitimate power has
directly resulted in his destructive nature.
Divine power is

Power And Evil In Macbeth
A Powerful Coward "Nearly all men can stand the power of adversity, but if you want to test a
man's character, give him power" (Abraham Lincoln). Someone can come off as a good person until
they are given power. When someone has power, they may abuse it or treat others unfairly. Giving
someone power and seeing how they act can show their true character. Macbeth is the most
responsible for the events that occur in the play because he misconstrued the witches prophecies and
was overcome by greed.
In the beginning of the play, Macbeth miscontruses the witches prophecies. The prophecies cause
Macbeth to think differently."All Hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter"(Shakespeare 1.3.50).
The witches first tell Macbeth that he will become king but they do not tell him when or how. "... a
prosperous gentleman, and to be king stands not within the prospect of belief" (Shakespeare
1.3.73–77). Macbeth knows it will be impossible to become king if the king is still alive. "Two
truths told, as happy prologues to the swelling acts of the imperial theme" (Shakespeare 1.2.70–78).
Since two of the witches...show more content...
"The prince of Cumberland! That is a step on which I must fall down, or else o'erleap, for in my way
it lies. Stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires. The eye wink at the hand,
yet let that be which the eye fears, when it is done, to see" (Shakespeare 1.4.48–53). Since the King
is still alive, Macbeth decides to either give up or try to become king. "If it were done when 'tis
done, then 'twere well it were done quickly. If the assassination could trammel up the consequence,
and catch with his surcease success; that but this blow might be the be–all and the end–all here, but
here, upon this bank and shoal of time, we'd jump the life to come" (Shakespeare 1.7.1–25).
Macbeth knows that killing the king is wrong but he is still contemplating on killing him just to
become

Power In Macbeth
Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Good morning ladies and gentlemen, I am the Second Witch from the
play, Macbeth and my job is to identify and analyse how I have represented power in Macbeth.
Macbeth is an English play published in 1606 by William Shakespeare during the reign of James I
and is based on Shakespeare's idea of the thirst for political and social power during the 17th century
(Colonial Period). William Shakespeare's intent of Macbeth is to exaggerate the damaging physical
and psychological effects of political and social ambition of those who pursue power for the sake of
it. In doing so the theme of power is represented through my relationships with other characters in the
novel throughout the novel. I have facilitated in developing...show more content...
Shakespeare's intent was to dramatize the effect the thirst for power for the sake of it has on a man.
The representation of power in Macbeth is effectively developed through the impact my
supernatural power has on Macbeth in comparison to Banquo. Similarly, Macbeth's insecure
personality and character are due to my significant control over his thoughts and mentality and the
deep seated guilt and haunted conscience portrayed by Lady Macbeth's soliloquy in Act 5 Scene 1
is a representation of my lasting influence over her. Therefore, through the lasting effect I have had
on both Macbeth's and Lady Macbeth's physical actions and mental thoughts, it is evident I have
helped represent the theme of power. Fair is foul, and foul is

Power In Macbeth Essay
In Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, Many themes are used to bring the play to life in many
ways. His use of blood and power as themes are really important to the meaning of the book as a
whole. Blood is used throughout the entire book showing how power can corrupt your mind and
soul. Macbeth felt guilty about all the blood he spilled in the name of power, which shows how
powerful the feeling of power is.
Blood is spilled throughout the book like in the war in the beginning of the book between the Scotts
and Norwegians, in Act 1, Scene 2. After that, power got toMacbeth's head, and he went on a killing
spree to rise to the top of the chain of being. Blood makes Macbeth feel guilty because although he
knows he can physically wash it, it cannot...show more content...
If you know that you are going to be guilty before you do something, don't do it, it will only make
you feel worse than what you gain from the situation. Macbeth killed Duncan to become king, yet he
regretted it because after he thought that his killing of Duncan wasn't worth the throne. His wife
tried to comfort him, but he knew his soul was stained with the blood of Duncan.
Power corrupts the mind, to a state where you are not yourself. Duncan kills Macbeth, although
he has been his friend, just to gain power. Someone who kills his friend in the sense of power just
shows the corrupting power can do to a person. Macbeth ended up becoming a tyrant he ruled his
country unfairly which is an abuse of power, especially because he shouldn't have been king in the
first place for a king at the time ruled by divine right not by the death of their leader.
Macbeth killing his way to the throne blurred his view as a leader, leading his country unfairly.
Power gets to the best of us in many situations blurring us from the right track we should follow.
Readers should learn from Macbeth not to let power get in the way of doing the right thing in all
situations.
Power and blood come together to fixate the mind of Macbeth throughout the story. Pushing him on
the wrong path, making him a worse person along the way. Macbeth starts to feel guilty, but it was
too late to come

Macbeth Essay On Power Leads To Corruption
Power is a very valuable thing, which most people seek. However, power can be used in different
ways, which reflects the future outcome. If power is twisted and taken into the wrong hands, it will
lead to an unfortunate outcome. In the play Macbeth, William Shakespeare shows that no matter
how pure one's intentions, power ultimately leads to corruption.
Macbeth's desire for power drives him to many murderous actions, which eventually leads to
corruption. Macbeth begins the play with pure intentions, and first, denies Lady Macbeth's evil plan
to murder King Duncan. Macbeth tells his wife, after her first try of persuading him, "We will
proceed no further in this business, He hath honored me of late, and I have bought Golden opinions
from all...show more content...
At the start of the play, Lady Macbeth will do anything in her power to become queen. Lady
Macbeth is so sure of gaining royalty after reading Macbeth's letter, she confirms, "[...] Which shall
to all our nights and days to come Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom" (I, v, 66–67). Lady
Macbeth clearly comes into the play with confident intentions on gaining superiority and power no
matter the consequences. Shortly after succeeding with her murderous plans, Lady Macbeth feels
remorseful and guilty. Lady Macbeth, even after becoming queen is not content and takes her own
life, Seyton announces, "The queen my Lord is dead" (V,v,16). Lady Macbeth gains realization of
her cruel actions and no longer thinks she deserves to live, resulting in her death.
Throughout the play, Macbeth, both characters Macbeth, and Lady Macbeth show examples of how
power ultimately leads to corruption regardless of their initial intentions. Macbeth is drawn in from
the witches and Lady Macbeth's influences from the start of the play. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth let
their power take control over their lives and both of their lives end shortly, and unsuccessfully.
Overall, the play conveys the message that power when taken into the wrong hands, will ultimately
lead to

Summary Of The Power Of Power In Macbeth
William Shakespeare is known as the greatest playwright in history. His plays have been performed
for centuries and his writings changed the world of theatre. His plays, which include Romeo and
Juliet, Twelfth Night, and, of course, Macbeth, have powerful messages that are still relevant in
today's context. Similar to his powerful messages, all of his works have powerful characters in them
and the story of Macbeth is no exception. The story of Macbeth is one of misfortune. This is the
story of a man who is powerful and courageous.However, he hears a prophecy saying he will rule
the kingdom.Through bloodshed and betrayal, Macbeth is able to seize the title of king. However,
becoming king comes with a heavy price. He quickly becomes deranged and, eventually, he is
defeated by a friend who saw right through Macbeth's guise (Act 1–5)). In this story of Macbeth,
there are many characters that have powerful qualities. Characters like Macbeth, Banquo, and
Macduff. However, the characters that hold the most power in the play are Lady Macbeth and the
Witches. In the script of this well–written play, Lady Macbeth and the Witches have certain qualities
that solidify the idea that these characters hold the most power in the events that transpire
throughout the script. In terms of who is most powerful between the given characters, the qualities
and actions that represent Lady Macbeth show that she holds the most power.
The witches are first introduced in scene one of act one. However,

Corruption and Power in Macbeth Essay
     Personal power has the ability to be essential to greatness,
and at the same time is able to destroy a person's nature. In the drama Macbeth by William
Shakespeare, the main character, Macbeth, becomes corrupt through power that he gains. The play
shows that even someone who starts out like Macbeth and does not crave power, will do terrible
things to gain authority and power.      The play begins with the
characters King Duncan and Malcolm talking about a "good and hardy soldier" (Act I: ii: 4). This
man they are talking about is the stories protagonist, Macbeth. Macbeth is a good soldier who is
devoted to his king. Then, Macbeth and his friend come across three witches who prophecy...show
more content...
Lady Macbeth, however, prevails and Macbeth kills Duncan.
     Macbeth does not become totally corrupted at first after
killing Duncan. Actually, Macbeth stays very skeptical and weary of the crime he has committed
so much that he refuses to go back into Duncan's room and finish the job (Act II: ii: 48). While
Macbeth seems very sting on the outside, one sees how weak his is mentally. Macbeth craves being
able to be completely powerful, and after the murder of King Duncan, Macbeth becomes much more
involved in the thought of becoming all–powerful.      After
Duncan's murder, Macbeth realizes that the witches' prophecy about him becoming king has
come true, and he feels that it is his destiny to be the king of Scotland. Macbeth begins to believe
in everything the witches say. Macbeth, however, does not want to risk giving up his crown to the
son of Banquo like the prophecy said. Thus, Macbeth hires three murderers to kill both Banquo
and his son. He tells the hired murderers to "leave no rubs nor botches in the work . "
(Act III: ii: 133). By having both men killed, no one will be in line to take the crown from Macbeth,
and he will secure his position has king.      Macbeth learns that
Banquo's son, Fleance, has escaped the murderers and fled into a safe county, so he turns to the final
opposition to his reign as

The Power Struggle in Macbeth
In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the focus that is placed on the character of Lady Macbeth helps to
convey the play's theme of the strife created by the struggle for power and control that is present
throughout the entire work. Shakespeare presents her character in great detail and shows her to be a
dominating, authoritative woman who thrives on the power she holds over her husband. He then
shows the principle character, Macbeth, rise up and join his wife in a struggle for power of his own.
It is the actions that Macbeth takes in attempt to achieve ultimate authority that lead to his downfall,
and it is Lady Macbeth's loss of control over her husband as he gains this independence which
causes her own...show more content...
For example, when he is indecisive about the plans to kill King Duncan, Lady Macbeth labels
him a coward. When Macbeth defends himself by explaining that he is doing all that can be
expected of a man, she replies, "When you durst do it, then you were a man"(1.7.49). She claims
that no real man would back down and refuse to follow through with an act he had agreed to, and
that, if he does so, she, herself, would be considered more of a man than he. As Max Huhner points
out in one of his essays, Lady Macbeth, like many of Shakespeare's other female characters, is
presented as being "more vindictive, revengeful, spiteful, and mean. . .than any man would be"(87).
She boasts of her own aggression as she states:
. . . I have given suck, and know
How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me:
I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums,
And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you
Have done to this.(1.7.54–9)
Later in the play, when Macbeth is troubled by the presence of the ghost of Banquo at his palace,
Lady Macbeth again uses insults to try to control his actions in front of the guests with the harsh
words, "Are you a man?"(3.4.59). "What! quite unmanned in folly?"(3.7.74). Lady Macbeth seems
to feed off the power she obtains over her husband by attacking his character, and she uses this to
build up her own confidence.
Once Macbeth follows through with his wife's plan to murder the

Macbeth Essay On Power

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Macbeth Essay On Power