Power’s Evil
In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, power is an important theme because everyone wants it. They desire power and they go to the extremes of killing for it. The events in Macbeth show us that power corrupts people in the sense that Macbeth does crazy things to get it.
The characters in Macbeth show us that power corrupts people. For one, Macbeth does crazy things to get it. When he says, “It were done quickly. If th’ assassination could trammel up the consequence, and catch, with his surcease, success; that but this blow might be the be-all and the end-all” (1.7 2-5) he decides that it would be best if he killed King Duncan in order to position himself on the throne, as the witches had predicted. Macbeth also wants to rid himself of Banquo because he feels him as a threat to his power on the throne. While Macbeth is speaking to his wife about Banquo he says, “Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep in the affliction of these terrible dreams that shake us nightly” (3.2 17-19), meaning that until Banquo is killed they will live in fear of losing their power. Macbeth also tries to kill Fleance, Banquo’s son, because he also finds him as a threat to his throne. While the murderers Macbeth sent out to kill both Banquo and his son are murdering Banquo, Banquo yells out to Fleance, “O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!” (3.3 17), and so Fleance gets away. So Macbeth is crazy because normal people don’t kill to get power.
The Term Paper on Themes Of Macbeth Murderers To Kill
Themes of Macbeth One of the themes in The Tragedy of Macbeth is that of blood. Macbeth is known for his skills as a warrior and his mercilessness that is shown in his killing of MacDonwald, this warrior mentality spreads though into his life and Macbeth begins to make killing a habit. When he is told in a prophecy that he shall be king, Macbeth takes it upon himself to murder, Duncan, king of ...
Lady Macbeth also plays a part in this corruption over power. She wants Macbeth to kill in order to obtain power. First, Lady Macbeth convinces her husband to kill King Duncan. When Lady Macbeth says, “What not put upon his spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt of our great quell?” (1.7 70-71) , she is telling Macbeth that the plan is to kill King Duncan and blame it on his guards. She also helps Macbeth lie about the murder of King Duncan. When Macbeth returns from doing the deed, Lady Macbeth notices that Macbeth is still spooked about what he has done. When they hear a knock on their door, Lady Macbeth tells her husband, “Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us and show us to be watchers. Be not lost so poorly in your thoughts” (2.3 69-71), meaning that he should play it cool and just act as if nothing has happened. Lady Macbeth also pretends as if she knows nothing of the crime that Macbeth and herself have committed. She says to Macduff, “What’s the business, that such a hideous trumpet calls to parkley the sleepers of the house?” (2.3 84), trying to play off the murder she was a part of. All in all, Lady Macbeth convinces people and lies in order to help her husband and herself keep power.
Another good if not the best example of corruption over power is that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth loose their mind due to their guilt. Right before Macbeth is about to kill King Duncan he imagines a dagger, or does he? In his quote, “Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Come. Let me clutch thee.” (2.1 33-34), he starts hallucinating and confuses himself to whether there is a dagger in front of him or not. His conscience is getting to him. After Macbeth kills Banquo, he sees his ghost while having a feast with the murderers. After the ghost disappears, he says to his wife “If I stand here, I saw him.” (3.4 75), because no one else sees the ghost. Again, his conscience is getting to him. Lady Macbeth cannot escape from her conscience either. She has a doctor caring for her because she is ‘ill’. While the doctor and the nurse are caring for Lady Macbeth, she sleep walks and talks about the crimes she and her husband have committed. One thing she says is “I tell you yet again, Banquo’s buried. He cannot come out on ‘s grave.” (5.1 66-67), a line that she told Macbeth and now repeating out loud while she sleep walks. In any way, both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth go crazy because they hallucinate about things that aren’t there.
The Essay on Macbeth Lady Duncan Kill
Macbeth is a popular play written by William Shakespeare, which is a tragedy. In order for Macbeth to be crowned king, King Duncan would have to die. There are two main characters in the play that want the power from Duncan and are too anxious to wait. Those two characters are Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, Lady Macbeth was the one who came up with the ideas and schemes to kill King Duncan. Whenever ...
In conclusion, power corrupts people in many ways. In Macbeth’s case, he killed and hallucinated about his crimes. Lady Macbeth manipulated people to believe her by lying and convincing people. They both went to extremes to get and keep their power, showing that power corrupts people.
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