Desire To Have Power In Macbeth

Power is something one can find in all aspects of life. Whether in a relationship between two people or over an entire country, many people hold power in their lives. What is done with that power is up to the person who holds it and can be a strong reflection of their character. Too many people in positions of power become so wrapped up in wanting total control, that they lose sight of what is right and wrong. In the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, power is demonstrated many ways through many different characters. Power and ambition greatly affects the choices people make everyday.

Seeking power is exhilarating but it can be someone’s undoing. The hunt for power can oftentimes lead to different external and internal consequences, which can also depend on the person or environment. Shakespeare’s Macbeth focuses on a character who eventually becomes obsessed with the pursuit of power, and trying to control the power that he already has. His power affects him and everyone around him. This act of trying to collect as much power as possible will ruin him, ultimately being his downfall. The real life example of Vladimir Putin showcases that he and people around him have also suffered the the consequences evident in Macbeth. Many times, the pursuit of power will lead to psychological impacts such as feeling fear and guilt which can show on the outside as delusion and insanity.

Macbeth is a story about murder and the spiral towards becoming mad with power. Macbeth, the story’s protagonist/antagonist, is told that he would receive great power and a title above all, the title of king. What macbeth is not told is how he would get this great power. Evententally after telling his wife she comes to the conclusion that she has to kill the current king Duncan. After Macbeth commits to the crime he’s crowned king and to remain king he kills off whoever could stands in his way even going to witches again only to be killed by what who they he would be killed by.

In the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, power is something that everyone craves, but, for Macbeth, power makes him woeful. Macbeth shows how terrible he is when more opportunities of power are introduced to him. Several bad reflections are, Macbeth kills his king Duncan to become the king of Scotland, appointing people to kill his best friend Banquo and his son Fleance to shatter their prophecy and executing Macduff’s family because Macduff fled to England to liberate Scotland from Macbeth.

Macbeth by William Shakespeare features a power struggle where Macbeth, who has an insatiable desire for power fueled by ambition, performs cruel actions in order to gain and maintain power over others. This power struggle is used by Shakespeare to highlight the intricacies of ambition, and how it can cause psychological turmoil and moral decay. In the tragedy, Macbeth by Shakespeare, Macbeth receives a false prophecy from the three witches, which reveals he will gain dominance over others, causing him to commit terrible acts for power. Ultimately, revealing that one’s ambition to gain power can cause chaos and destruction if left unchecked by their moral conscience. In the first act of Macbeth, Shakespeare reveals Macbeth’s ambition after

Macbeth corrupts the power of rule and becomes self centered and greedy. The corruption of power creates self centeredness and revenge. Early in the play, Macbeth emerges as the definition of what it means to be a man, Macbeth takes his time so everything will be one right and no one will question him when he takes throne. Fortunately, Macbeth’s decision to rethink the plan of Duncan's murder enables him to change his plan so he can kill Duncan and will have it be “done quickly”.

Within the multitude of facets in life, there is almost always a metaphorical ladder that people attempt to climb with the intent to reach the top. This act is done for various reasons, the search for recognition, popularity, success, and especially for power. These searches in life are also quite abundant in the literary world, where a character, or characters, hope to discover something that will bring them at least one rung higher. A prime example of a character's search for something is in William Shakespeare’s "Macbeth," where the title character is in the search for power.

The desire and drive for power is a quality that is imbedded in many human beings, but it is the degree in which one is willing to go that separates those who reach that power in a noble way from those who use any means necessary to get what they ultimately want. In the play, Macbeth by Shakespeare, Macbeth’s desire to gain power is the main focus of the play and his ambition to gain this power leads him to lose himself and all reasoning he once embodied. Macbeth first shows his immense desire and ambition to gain power when he and Lady Macbeth actually plot to kill Duncan so that Macbeth can become the king. They do this by befriending Duncan and even inviting him into their home just so Macbeth can murder him in the dark of the night. To

Macbeth, from Shakespeare’s world renowned Macbeth, serves as an example as the type of person who has their sight set on power and control and is willing to let their unchecked ambition get ahead of them. Macbeth had such a strong desire for power that he was even willing to commit the evil act of murdering King Duncan. Macbeth has chosen the path of evil, which for Macbeth this includes murdering loyal friends, scheming with apparitions and witches, and even murdering sleep, but now there is no turning back.

In this world, one of the strongest human drives seems to be the desire for power. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Thane Macbeth seeks to gain power over Scotland. Through Macbeth’s search for power, he must choose between what is morally right or his inner motives. Macbeth gains power over others through the murders of King Duncan, Banquo, and Macduff’s entire family along with his servants. After each murder, Macbeth becomes more confident in his search to gain power.

Page 2 of 2 ZOOM Cristy FredaAP Lit18 October 2017MacbethOne of the strongest human drives seems to be a desire for power. Many people nowadays try to gain power in immoral ways. Macbeth shows a constant destruction and disregard for life throughout his quest for power. In Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the theme of destruction wrought from the lust for power which is shown through the murder of Duncan, his fear of Banquo, and Lady Macbeth’s influence towards Macbeth’s ambition. The three witches give a prophecy to Macbeth saying that he will become a king one day.

The desire for power is a natural trait; however, how one goes about obtaining that power determines whether or not one will be led to their own demise or succeed in obtaining that power. In Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the eponymous character is led to his downfall by his desire for power. Macbeth kills his king to satisfy his selfish desire for power. After Macbeth becomes king, he is fearful of the idea that he will be dethroned and does whatever it takes to maintain power. Shakespeare contrasts the extreme avariciousness of the eponymous character with the humility and loyalty of his rivals in order to reinforce that these are positive characteristics needed to obtain power.

In the play Macbeth by Shakespeare I found at the beginning the character Macbeth was a portrayed as a noble, honest and brave man. As said by the captain in the second scene, ‘For brave Macbeth – well he deserves that title’ (I.2.16). This gives the audience an indication that Macbeth was highly respected by the king’s men and the king himself. His desire for power grew throughout the play from when he had his first encounter with the witches.

No wildfire burns without ignition, and no misdeed comes about with the perpetrator alone at fault. There are always others who had an impactful effect. This is demonstrated in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, where an extensive cast of characters are developed through their roles in the titular character’s road to condemnation. Macbeth’s quest for power came to fruition through the temptation and support of other characters, demonstrating that without others, he would not have met his downfall.

“I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’ other‘.” William Shakespeare’s ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’ explores the central themes of guilt, ambition and power. Yet Shakespeare’s intentions were to suit the expectations and knowledge of the audience in the Elizabeathan society.