How Power Corrupts in Macbeth Essay

Hook. In William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” the relationship between ambition and corruption is explored. First of all, Macbeth’s inability to control his urges to know his fate leads him to listen to The Weird Sister’s prophecies, which eventually leads to his unhealthy desire for power. Next, Lady Macbeth’s strong ambition to kill the King leads to a corruption of her mental state and behavioral standards. Lastly, Macbeth’s aspiration to rule Scotland leads to a harmful greed for power and betrayal of his morals. Overall, one’s demonstration of an overly ambitious nature can lead to corruption and an excessive desire for power.

However, he growingly becomes suspicious of someone close to him, Banquo, trying to bring him down. Macbeth remembers that Banquo was with him when he received the prophecy, and that Banquo was told by the witches that his sons would become kings. Macbeth believes that Banquo will do anything he can for this prophecy to come true, and that killing him would be the only way. Power hungry, Macbeth has Banquo and his son killed, so the possibility of them taking his power away are no more. This shows that power has driven Macbeth to kill another one of his

Power is nothing to be handled lightly. As the lessons of history have shown, power can be implemented for the benefit of the subjects or for the personal furthering of the ruler. In William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth, the main character is used as the antithesis of an exemplar for those in power over others. The perils of power are demonstrated by the actions of Macbeth through his rise to kingship, his time of ruling, and his fall.

The story of Macbeth is one of a man losing his grip on reality. The reason why is he had obtained power for selfish and greedy reasons, so he is filled with guilt. His best friend and notable ally Banquo live a happier life because of his son and the value in things greater than himself. Then when fate seems to value those who fight for a reason and family, opposed to pure power and strength. In Shakespeare's Macbeth the massage getting power is not as important as son and family because you can’t pass on the power and live a happy life.

In the text Macbeth by William Shakespeare the main character Macbeth gets corrupted by the avarice for power. When Macbeth realises that king Duncan is an obstacle, preventing him from being the king, he decides to obtain his power dishonestly. “Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires”, Macbeth plots to murder the king to acquire power. After feeling the tingle of power, he becomes determined to keep it and acts brutally. He does not hesitate to murder his best friend to secure his and his future generations position as the king. “Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown and a barren scepter in my grip, Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, No son of mine succeeding. If’t be so, For Banquo’s issue have

    The tragedy Macbeth highlights an ambivalent character who wants to be king. This paper will take a close look at his character.

After the witches have left; Macbeth is still dazed at the predictions about the Kingship but also he doesn’t want to show his true feelings about all of the predictions; so he discreetly brings up the subject to Banquo. “Your children shall be Kings.” Already Macbeth feels

Banquo asked if the witches were imaginary or as real as they seem to be. He says that they greeted his friend (Macbeth) with his present titles, with prophecy of future nobility and with promise of royalty. He seems amazed. In contrast Macbeth is stunned to silence by their prophecies, while Banquo questions them calmly, showing that the witches don’t have the same affect on him.

  The audience sees in Shakespeare's Macbeth that the one who ends up victorious, the one whose family will provide kings for the kingdom, is the innocent, spiritually inclined Banquo. It is he about whom this essay will deal.

Banquo first see the three witches. If we don’t look carefully we see the fair Macbeth talking to the foul

In Act 1 scene 3, Macbeth and Banquo encounter the three witches on an open field. Here, the three witches give Macbeth three prophecies: “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth! Hail to you, thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth that shalt be king hereafter!” At first, Macbeth is quite eager about the news. He becomes even more curious and interested in the witches when he realizes that

The play commences with the scene of the trinity of witches and is then followed by King Duncan getting introduced to the news of Macbeth and Banquo’s victory over the two treacherous noblemen, Thane of Cawdor and Macdonworld. Macbeth is praised as ‘Valour’s minion’, ‘Bellona’s bridegroom’, and King Duncan has full faith in his loyalty. Macbeth and Banquo encounter– the trio of witches on their way back to the King’s landing and the witches address Macbeth as the Thane of Cawdor and also prophecy that he is soon to become the King of Scotland. They also forecast that Banquo would be the father of the King. The messengers of the king soon arrive and greet Macbeth with his new title, and hence proving the first prophecy to be true. That strikes a light of hope in Macbeth’s heart that perhaps he would soon become the King of Scotland as predicted by the witches. He informs his wife, Lady Macbeth about all this.

In Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, the decisions of Banquo and Macbeth following the exposure to their future show how the two character follow their own moral code and order in which Banquo acts by his moral order and loyalty, while Macbeth deviates from what is naturally and morally correct, through the ruthless deception of killing the King. The two characters are compared through two passages that use literary devices and techniques such as: symbol, synecdoche, Foil , foreshadow, visual imagery, tone and motif to convey the statement that as ones ambitions grows rapidly, so does the necessity to become more avarice for power and dominant over others.

two men were promised more than they could imagine for this one deed but would fail as they would end Banquo’s life but would fail to murder his son Fleance. With this in mind anybody in power such as Macbeth can become a powerful foe as they have the

Secondly, the veracity behind the supernatural elements will intervene with an individual’s view of authority. Out of curiosity, Banquo asks the three witches about his fate. However, he is more suspicious about the prophecy and questions the truthfulness behind their words: “[. . .] The instruments of darkness tell us truths, / win us with hones trifles, to betray us / In deepest consequence.” (1. 3. 133-135). Banquo believes that while the witches speak the truth, they will eventually have to suffer the consequences of this knowledge. His doubtfulness toward the prophecies cause him to worry about the actions Macbeth will take to