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Power Corrupts In Shakespeare's Macbeth

Decent Essays

As defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary, power is the “possession of control, authority, or influence over others”. Power is frankly quite powerful when held in the hands of one person. It can cause a divide amongst families, countries, or even society for that matter. What really lies behind the true meaning of power is how it affects people, either negatively or positively. This ultimately causes people to feel differently depending on what is put into place by the one who holds the authority. Power can always be corrupt in many types of ways, but it can be more harmful to some than others and therefore does not affect everyone equally.
In the play, Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, there are a couple instances where power corrupts and can cause problems. For example, when Macbeth realizes all the power he could attain, he corrupts by killing King Duncan in order to own all the power. As Macbeth is on stage alone, he talks about how even though King Duncan was a great king, it's time for him to take over because his only desire is to be king. As he speaks he mentions “I have no spur to pick the prides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself and fails on one another”(1.7.25-28). By Macbeth following through with the killing of Duncan, we can conclude how much the death of Duncan affected his family more than anyone else. This being that he is no longer there for his family. Lady Macbeth corrupts by wanting to become queen for power, she convinced her own husband Macbeth to kill Duncan. This is where we see gender roles take action. As Macbeth is afraid to kill King Duncan, Lady Macbeth says, “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…” (1.7.45-47). Not only do we see the female portraying more of a masculine characteristic, but we also see that idea that power is viewed differently when Lady Macbeth says this. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth ultimately seem to not be able to live without higher power.
When used correctly, power can have a tremendous positive outcome and effect on others, however, the problem occurs when it’s not. In this particular case we observe a time where the use

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