Macbeth Power Courrpts

Shara Wallace
A Block
Power Corrupts

In the play “Macbeth”, written by Shakespeare, he uses the characters to portray different themes, and one of the major themes is “Power corrupts”. He shows how harsh a kingdom of corrupt people can be. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are the characters that have gained the most corruption because of their greed for power. Their pretentious behavior causes them to go to the extreme, by making abstract decisions to become king and queen by killing Duncan for his position and power.

“For none of woman born shall hurt Macbeth” said by the witches will ultimately ruin Macbeth because this will feed his ego, thinking he is untouchable. His self confidence caused him to think that he could over power, and defeat others. The comfort of the prophecy from the witches makes Macbeth feel safe, although he does not see the other meaning by a vision of Banquo and his eight descendants. When Macbeth realizes the true implications of the predictions he sends two murderers to do his ominous deed by kill Banquo and his sons. Because of what the witches said, it corrupted naïve Macbeth into thinking that he was immortal and invincible so he acted careless.

Macbeth said, “I’ll put a sword to his wife, children and all unfortunate souls who might follow him” because he wants to kill Macduff. Macbeth is sick with power; his will is to kill an innocent family and his kids to keep his throne. He has become so conceited and corrupt, that he only cares about himself now. This could decide his fate, whether he stays king or not for many years to come. He craves control so much that he is willing to put his life on the line.

“Art thou afeard to be the same in thine own act and valor as thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life, And live a coward in thine own esteem…”, said by Lady Macbeth, meaning that she thinks that Macbeth doesn’t have the courage to do what it takes to become king by killing Duncan. If Lady Macbeth is very aggressive and wants the power just as much as Macbeth does, then why doesn’t she kill Duncan herself, instead of manipulating and patronizing him into doing it. They want it so bad that they are willing to shed someone else’s blood for it.

In the end, Macbeth was defeated, like all other mortals. The power polluted his mind with corruption until death. The wrong people are the ones who in the end are always corrupt, because they are so greedy for power that they cannot handle the strength of it. It weakens them because they are so focused on it, and them selves. Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” was bleak, written so that its themes were straight to the point and very relevant. I think that he is very moralistic and his objective was to make people more aware of these flaws that we humans share.