Power Corrupts In Macbeth

“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.

     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.

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 the tragic play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, a brave war hero receives a prophecy from three witches which leads, power hungry Macbeth as well as his wife Lady Macbeth to destruction. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth commit unspeakable acts due to being driven by fear which suggests, people can be manipulated by their fear resulting in personal corruption. Throughout the play the Witches play a huge role in creating fear within Macbeth, which drives him further and further into a hole of destruction. In the beginning of the play the three witches’ share Macbeth’s prophecy with him which is that he will become the king of Scotland.

All humans have goals and dreams and many times to achieve them one becomes selfish. The play of Macbeth written by Shakespeare the protagonist Macbeth is an impeccable exemplar of power corruption At the being of the play, after coming back from the battlefield it is clear to king Duncan and everybody that Macbeth is an outstanding war soldier. This was due to Macbeth fighting off the enemy and saving malcolm from being captured. Malcolm states “his is the sergeant.

In the book Macbeth by Shakespeare there are two characters named Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, and their knowledge capacity was so filled with guilt at the end of the book their mind could not take anymore. This book was written around 1606 and today we still see this today but just a different way. Throughout the book Shakespeare showed how power can change your character, and mind. In the book, Macbeth made many mistakes, and soon some people turned against him.

In “Macbeth” William Shakespeare utilizes the tragic flaw of ambition in Macbeth to illustrate the theme “Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely” for the purpose of “Macbeth”. Macbeth’s first actions of ambition leading to his demise was being influenced by the 3 witches’ prophecies “All hail Macbeth! Hail to the Thane of Cawdor! All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!”

Power often seems to be one of the strongest human desires, often leading them to their doom. In “Macbeth”, William Shakespeare exemplifies how a character who seeks to gain power over others inevitably cause their own downfall. Listening to parts of his prophecy, Macbeth continuously aims to fulfill the parts of his destiny which appeal to his gaining of power, and break the parts of the prophecies which endanger his acquired titles and riches. In “Macbeth”, Shakespeare uses characterization to illustrate how people often seek to gain power over others, leading to the theme of destruction brought upon unchecked moral constraints. Before his greedy and murderous acts, Macbeth was revered in Scotland and had come to acquire titles and recognition

A writer named Frank Herbert once said: “Power tends to isolate those who hold too much of it. Eventually they lose touch with reality… and fall”. King Duncan is the King of Scotland who is very loved, but is murdered in his sleep. Macbeth is a power-hungry thane of Scotland who wants to be king and, eventually, has no problem if blood is shed in order to obtain or keep his power. Lady Macbeth convinces her husband to kill the king, not realizing what effect this will really have on Macbeth and herself in the long run.

The Tragedy of Macbeth written by William Shakespeare is about the need to rise to power and the loss of one’s humanity. Throughout the play Lady Macbeth and Macbeth struggle to keep their humanity while trying to balance the power they seek out. The play instructs that power and humanity aren’t two things that can co-exist; one will lead to destruction and death while the other one will lead to a happy life. Power is something that many people seek out. It can give the most wonderful, glamorous life anyone can dream of.

Does power corrupt automatically? Power is not something everyone should have and can be greatly corrupted if it falls in the hand of someone who does not know how to handle it. The question of if power corrupts automatically is a question that is frequently discussed throughout literature topics today. In fact, an example of this question is portrayed in Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth”. In Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth” I believe power greatly corrupted the sanity of the character Macbeth.

Moreover, when Macbeth fully commits into becoming a king, the power will inevitably corrupt him. For instance, in Act 1, scene seven, Lady Macbeth is shown pressuring Macbeth into becoming king and even questions his masculinity saying “When you durst do it, then you were a man”(1.7.49). She is pushing Macbeth because he is respectful and kind to Duncan showing that he isn’t yet corrupt or dishonest enough to

The Consequences Of Power In William Shakespeare's Macbeth Philosophers over time have warned about the dangers of gaining absolute power. History, often repeating itself, shows evidence of what can happen in the quest for this absolute power. Historical figures of the past have proven the dangers of gaining absolute power, it's reasonable that Shakespeare would look to the bloody wars of Scotland to place a tragedy caused by power seeking nobles. From the pharaohs of Egypt to Fidel Castro, power seeking individuals are willing to become ruthless to gain authoritarian positions and do harm to keep them.

Murders, evil spirits, and manipulation make it evident that something, or rather somebody, is corrupt in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” All of the evil acts can be blamed on two specific people: Lord Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, but whose fault is it really? Lady Macbeth is more morally corrupt than Lord Macbeth, because she is the root cause of all of the evil within their country. Lady Macbeth is the first character to have corrupt thoughts; She started all of the evil shenanigans. After reading the letter, she realized that in order to be King, Macbeth would have to kill King Duncan – something she knew her husband was not capable of, so instead, she instigated it.

Damaris Sanchez 10/13/17 P:1 The theme quest for power was demonstrated in Shakespeare’s ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’. The first time readers get a taste of the theme is when Macbeth thought about how he was going to become king of Scotland. Macbeth shows he wants power when he says, “If chance will have me, why, chance may crown me, without my stir” (Shakespeare 309). Macbeth proves he desires power when he starts to talk about having to do something to become king.