Examples Of Power In Macbeth

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The play Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare exhibits how power corrupts a man’s character by becoming his weakness, deteriorating his mind and soul. Macbeth being given the ultimate power over all of Scotland is now becoming a burden on his mental health. The play displays scenes where it clearly indicates King Macbeth’s mind deteriorating; King Macbeth begins to see Banquo’s ghost at their royal dinner and after his dearest wife dies he does not express any emotions towards her. Macbeth being the serpent underneath an innocent flower betrays his best friend, Banquo by hiring murderers to kill him. After receiving the news on Banquo’s death at his royal dinner he goes back to see a full table. He looks around and sees his best friend’s …show more content…

Before Malcolm enters Macbeth’s castle King Macbeth comes to know that his queen, Lady Macbeth dies. He shows no emotion of being sorrow and instead states this, “She should have died hereafter; there would have been a time for such a word…Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time” (5, 5, 16-20). Instead of Macbeth being miserable he explains that Lady Macbeth would die later on anyhow. Moments later, he quickly shifts his focus to what the messenger tells him, not even caring once to see his cherishing wife’s corpse. This shows how Macbeth’s mind is deteriorating; the woman who always takes stand beside him supporting his actions is now forgotten by the king. Macduff’s goes through something similar but acts in a totally different and common way. He shows his feelings and emotions towards the loss of family and thinks of seeking revenge. Macbeth is not a true leader; he always falls for whatever people say to him and only listens to what he wants to hear, which has also become his weakness. Overall Macbeth is driven crazy with all the power he does not care for anything except his power over everyone, causing his mind to slowly

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