Macbeth: Does Power Corrupt Automatically?

Prize winner John Steinbeck once proclaimed that “Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts… and perhaps the fear of losing of power - corrupts.” This is seen throughout the entirety of

“All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” is a quote from Lord John Dalberg-Acton, explaining that any amount of power can corrupt the mind, but absolute power will take over. This is represented throughout history: in politics, monarchies and times like the french revolution. Many writers have used this theme in their works. One work that includes this theme is William Shakespeare's Macbeth. The play Macbeth follows Macbeth, a brave warrior as he gains power from his deeds both good and bad. By killing the Duncan, the former king, Macbeth rises to power and takes control of his country. With every bit of power that the Macbeth’s gain, they become more and more corrupt.

It isn't true that power corrupts automatically. In Shakespeare's play Macbeth, Macbeth rises to power. However he does this in a corrupt fashion, and when he achieves his power he must maintain it was by killing any that could take it from him. However, Malcom son of king Duncan, takes away Macbeths power but instead of killing others to keep his power Malcom rewards his companions. It is not power itself that corrupts, but the method that you use to achieve it.

     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.

I personally believe that in the play "Macbeth" there is many examples to use to further the point that power can corrupt a person sometimes. In the play, before Macbeth becomes the king and is just first told by the witches that he will become the king of Scotland at some point, he is very interested in this but is still wary and not sure what to expect. However, Lady Macbeth eventually convinces Macbeth to kill the king himself, which I think she was able to do because the idea of power was very alluring to Macbeth, so in a way it had already began to corrupt him. While it can be argued that this wasn't the power corrupting him and instead was outside influence from his wife and the witches, this opinion gets more discredited the further into the play you read because eventually once Macbeth becomes the king he makes corrupt decisions by himself out of fear of losing his power. such as when he orders that Macduffs' family be put to death and for his castle to be taken. In this specific situation the witches did warn him that Macduff was a threat to his power and his kingship, however no one convinced him or advised him to have his family murdered that was his own decision and what he felt he had to do to secure his position as king of Scotland.

Personal power has the ability to be essential to greatness, and at the same time is able to destroy a person’s nature. William Shakespeare’s destructive play, Folger Shakespeare Library “Macbeth”, reveals the corrupting force of power through its complex characters and interactions. 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.

Any person could say in one point of their life they have wanted power and authority. In Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the tragedy starts off with a loyal subject named Macbeth who is crowned Thane of Cawdor. Once Macbeth was crowned Thane, he wanted something greater, something superior, and to do that he had come up with the idea to kill, even though he was fearful of being caught. The most superior person that everyone was loyal too and loved the king. Macbeths want for that power is later turned into corruption. The corruption of power inside Macbeth turns his loyal side to a cruel,darker, and malicious side. The desire for power can corrupt loay subjects by relying on fear to maintain one’s position. In Macbeth, our protagonist, at

In Acts 1 and 2, Shakespeare presents Macbeth as brave by the way that others describe him. Before the entrance of Macbeth onto the stage, the audience learns how brave Macbeth has just been on the battlefield in honour of his king. He is called ‘brave Macbeth’ because ‘he deserves that name’, we learn about his valiant character by the ways that

Power gives people the ability to control and influence. It is held and used in many ways, significant and insignificant, for justice, mercy or desire. Because of its ability to give people what they want, power tempts people into doing the unthinkable in order to acquire it. Power itself is uncorrupted, only tainted and weaponised by those who hold it. In Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ and Suzanne Collins’ ‘Hunger Games: Mocking Jay Part Two, manipulation and suggestion are shown to corrupt power and contribute to its use in the name of evil. Through a comparison of literary devices in ‘Macbeth’ and ‘Mockingjay Part Two’, humanity’s corruption of power will be explored and unveiled

In Act 1, Shakespeare wrote Macbeth with admired masculine qualities countered with Lady Macbeth criticising his idiosyncrasies. Lady Macbeth’s definition of a man is disparate to others’. In Scene 2, the captain labels Macbeth as “brave”. This is a venerated and respected quality on the battlefield. King Duncan later refers to Macbeth as “valiant cousin”. These pronouncements show that an

In the opening scenes we can see that Macbeth is a brave and valiant soldier, ready to die for his king and his country. We can see that he is held in high esteem by many of the royals and lay people. Duncan his king says “noble Macbeth” showing that Duncan thinks he is brave in battle and tough.

Complicated consequences result from the abuse of power that is central in William Shakespeare’s play ’Macbeth’ following immoral manipulation. Macbeth was written in 1606 during the reign of King James I and was used as a warning to potential threats of the King. It is a form of praise and admiration towards the King by Shakespeare as those who immorally seize power will ultimately possess a destroyed fate. Through analysing the text, we can see that abuse of power through supernatural manipulation on human nature is evident therefore guilt and delusions are consequences of that power abuse.

In Scene two, line 16, the captain describes Macbeth as “brave.” He also goes on to tell the King of the horrific battle between Macbeth and Macdonald. Macdonald was fighting for the Scottish side but changed to

Macbeth’s character begins as an extremely respectable and an extraordinary soldier. All the men respected him and praised him, the Captain told King Duncan of his valor in battle:

When the captain’s story is told, Duncan declares Macbeth to be “o valiant cousin, worthy gentleman.”