Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutly in Shakespeare's Macbeth Essay

“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.

The manner in which he became Thane of Cawdor immediately following the 'weird sister's' predictions strikes him solely as a coincidence, but initiates his musings as to how it would feel to be King. Upon his return Lady Macbeth endeavors to show Macbeth the manner in which his dreams that he dismissed as impossibilities, could become realities. Lady Macbeth attempted to convince him of the righteousness of the act, luring him with images of being king. He answered, still clutching at his original morals:

It is in human nature that the more power one desires the more corrupt actions one must do to attain it. In Shakespeare’s tragedy of Macbeth, a Scottish noble's craving for power leads him to do terrible deeds that leads to his demise. Shakespeare shows that power corrupts by using Macbeth who corrupts under the thought of have power over others. Macbeth becomes corrupt under the thought of becoming king and gaining almost complete control over the people that he rules. Macbeth wants the power badly enough to do horrible deeds such as commit regicide. Lady Macbeth becomes very ambitious and allows herself to become seduced to the

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.

“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.

    William Shakespeare's tragic play Macbeth presents the fizzled drive of an ambitious husband and wife. This essay is the story of their destructive ambition.

Power is the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behaviour of others or the course of events. When people have too much power it can lead to corruption. Macbeth’s power as king led to the corruption of Scotland and his downfall. He was given to much power which he acquired himself by killing Duncan because he believed he would be a better ruler. No one stopped him because they didn’t know the horrible deeds he done for sure and were scared to speak out in the fear of their lives. Too much power went to Macbeth’s head that he was paranoid that someone was out to take his crown away. He had many executed and left Scotland in a fearful state that was much different than when Duncan ruled. Macbeth did not see anything wrong because the only thing that mattered was him being and staying king. Macbeth’s political power as king made him jealous and led to the corruption of himself and Scotland that often ended in murders, therefore, emphasizing that too much power is a destructive,

In the Shakespearian play, Macbeth cannot be solely responsibly for the tyranny that he causes. Macbeths close relationship with lady Macbeth and his own ambitions to become king lead him to many evil actions. This relationship causes many fatalities, which is turn leads to changes in the personality of lady Macbeth and this can be seen, as she has difficulty in coping with the situation that she has put herself in. However, slow reactions by other characters in the play, may have been the cause many unnecessary events to occur. But, theses may not have mattered is it wasn’t for the apparitions given to two characters by the evil sisters, these

In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the story of an ambitious royal turns into the followings of a murderous tyrant. The Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth, is motivated by his fear that his deep desires will not come true, and his tyrant, gender role-breaking wife, Lady Macbeth, to kill off various successors to the throne. Macbeth is introduced as an ambitious heir to the the throne, but is quickly displayed as a raging king. In William E. Cain’s essay “Murderous Thinking in Macbeth”, he describes the relationship between the audience and Macbeth as “sympathetically connected.” Macbeth is seen as a vicious tyrant to the rest of the characters, but his deep desires are seen by the audience or readers. The audience is shown Macbeth’s guilt and remorse throughout the play, up until he kills Macduff’s family. Macbeth obtains the mindset of a power hungry, murderous tyrant when he kills Macduff’s family.

  "I'll fight till from my bones my flesh be hacked."  (Act 5, Scene 3).  Phrases as forceful as Macbeth's quote are not common day language, in fact, it is used except in times of intense emotion.  Although the diction of Macbeth's words are from the Elizabethan Age, it's message rings true and clear.  Macbeth clearly will oppose anything standing in the way of his passion.  Critics often debate over the what tragic flaw of Macbeth lead to his downfall.  Was it ambition or Lady Macbeth's influence?  Hardly so.  It was an obsession of power that Macbeth desired so much that led to his compulsive fixation and preoccupation of obtaining his desire by any and all means necessary.  Thus, he inevitably

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 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.

Macbeth's destiny and his lust for power, confirmed by the Three Witches and Lady Macbeth, leads to destruction. Every act that Macbeth commits effects the kingdom as a whole. Macbeth's indecisiveness and his understanding of success cause this destruction. This lust for power leads Macbeth, as it would all men, to an evil that exist in everyone. It is his destiny to fail.

Macbeth is one of William Shakespeare’s most powerful and emotionally intense plays. Macbeth, once known for his courage and bravery is transformed into a ruthless tyrant. His wife, Lady Macbeth, once known for her strength and great ambition is soon engulfed by guilt and sensitivity greatly weakens her. As the tragic hero Macbeth is overcome by tensions in his criminal act and the reactions by his conscience (Nix).