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What is the relationship between Macbeth and the other characters in the play
Character and their relationship in Macbeth
Character and their relationship in Macbeth
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How are Power and Corruption Related?
One may ask, “How are Power and Corruption Related?”, “Do corrupt people seek and acquire power? Or, does power corrupt people?” Some might even think there is no real connection between having power and being corrupt. The idea that power and corruption stand in some meaningful relationship was encapsulated and as if carved into the world by many authors and writers, including Lord Acton; thus concluding that indeed, power leads to corruption.
Lord Acton, a British historian of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries made a statement, which is now viewed with great importance. He thought the world was made of two things; Power and Corruption. His observations lead to his thinking that, “Power
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Macbeth had been visited by witches, who saw him as king, and lady used every last resort to push her husband into power, and the “only way” was to murder the king. This is a perfect example of corruption, because as soon as she felt the tingle of power, she was lusting for more. When Lady Macbeth begins to convince Macbeth to assassinate the king, telling him, “look like th’ innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t. (I, VI, 64-65),” she understands that her husband has some power accumulated, but it does not stop her from wanting …show more content…
He begins with leading a small group of boys who do his every command. We can already see he is used to playing the role of the frontrunner, he was a born leader and when he was not elected leader of the boys, he immediately sought ways to gain power. He called himself leader of the hunters, which allowed him to make his first baby steps, towards the finish line (the power on the island). In the beginning of the book Jack couldn't kill the pig, meaning he still had his morals and had not been corrupted. But, as the book advanced, he became more and more ruthless until he killed a boy. Relating to the continuum of Macbeth, the corruption becomes greater with the murder of Banquo. Banquo is betrayed when Macbeth, the new king, orders for Banquo to be killed so Fleance (Banquo’s son) wouldn’t be able to take the throne from Macbeths
The corruptive nature of power can be observed in both novels Animal Farm by George Orwell (1945) and The Wave by Todd Strasser (1981). In the wise words of Lord Acton, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." (Phrase Finder, 2012) The simple nature of mankind is to want power and when man achieves this, he gets addicted, wants more and thus becomes corrupt. This exploitation of dominance relates to when the dictator loses his moral values and abuses power purely for his own benefit and loses sight of what the initial goals were. Even the best intentions, such as those that were only just formed in Animal Farm and The Wave, can be distorted by the basic human instinct of selfishness
Power. It is defined as the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events. Throughout time, certain individuals have acquired power in their society as a way to govern and keep order among their community. Power is not a new concept; it was used in the past by many emperors, kings, and queens, and is still being used by presidents, prime ministers, and dictators. Although, it has been used to further progress societies into what the world is like today, not all power has been used for the best of mankind. But what goes awry to make power turn corrupt? In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, it is illustrated how power can turn corrupt, when authoritative figures, who possess power, abuse it for their personal gain, rather than for the common good of the society.
Consecutively, his greed impulses him to murderous intentions, “Let not light see my black and deep desires” (1.4. 57-58). Macbeth becomes jealous. The Prince of Cumberland, the king’s son, is in his way, which makes Macbeth think of desires so “black” that even light could be devoured, and or suggesting it will also frighten the audience. Shakespeare also uses this as foreshadowing to Macbeth’s fate and character. In addition, Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as the inciter for him to murder the king. Nevertheless, Macbeth is prone to greed, he would have committed murder over time anyhow. Judging by his lethal plans, Macbeth says his reason to kill him, “ I have no spur \ To prick the sides of my intent, but only \ Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself \ And falls on the other-” (1.7.25-28). In this scene, Macbeth expresses his honesty; he knows he has no “spur,” or any real motive to kill the king, the true purpose would be for his own power and “ambition.” In addition, Shakespeare uses a metaphor of a horse-rider representing Macbeth’s ambition, which would be an inexperienced rider, who would “vault” so forcefully, that he will fall on the other side. He realizes his greed for ambition would result in his destruction, including Lady Macbeth. After the bloodshed, they became insane, and both died an agonizing death. They were arrogant, and impatient for success and power that they even killed best friends and families for it. Therefore, the power to rule over another shows to serve as a guilty pleasure for individuals. Furthermore, this correlates to the story of The Wife of Bath Tale, where the women yearn for power, which was caused by oppression. Then in the story, the knight, who commits rape, was set to find women’s true desire to save him from a death sentence. He finally
In the Shakespearean tragedy, "Macbeth", there are many examples of corruption. When Macbeth became Thane of Cordor, his wife, Lady Macbeth, was very delighted to hear of such news. And upon hearing that Macbeth had been visited by witches who saw Macbeth as king, she used every last resort to thrust her husband into power, by use of murder (of the king), blackmail and fraud. This is a perfect example of corruption, because as soon as she felt the tingle of power, she was lusting for more.
Power is the source of all corruption as supported by Dickens’s novel A Tale of Two Cities. The characters Monseigneur, Marquis of Evermonde, and the revolutionaries all become corrupt in the end because of the power they possessed. If they did not possess power, they would not have been able to complete the actions they had planned to. Then, if they’re actions did not occur, the corruption they caused would cease to exist
At this point, with an understanding of what power is, what it means, how it is created and the various means through which it is expressed, one can begin to conceptualise how it is that power functions within a given society. Symbolic, cultural, social and economic capital distribute and perpetuate power within a society, through a cycle of transformation whereby these capital resources can be interchanged and manipulated to the advantage of individuals who have
The play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, explores the darkest corners of the human psyche. It artfully takes its audience to a place that allows one to examine what a human being is truly capable of once tempted by the allure of power. In the play, Scottish noble Macbeth and his wife inevitably fall prey to their own self corruption. Initiated by prophesies made by three mysterious witches, the Macbeths set their sights on the throne. When the curtains open on the plot to murder King Duncan, Lady Macbeth is the driving force. Her criminal mind and desire for ruthlessness have led many a critic to define her as evil. Closer examination, however, reveals that she is a multifaceted character; other sides to her persona include: genuine good will towards her husband, coy manipulation, and feminine tenderness.
There are many things in the world that can gain power. However, many people have different points of views on the attainment of power.
Power can transform even the most loyal of men. In Shakespeare’s gloomy and morbid Macbeth, nothing is as it seems. Even the most loyal characters are duplicitous in their nature, exemplified by Macbeth. The greatest Scottish warrior becomes power hungry in his quest to re-kindle his relationship with his wife, Lady Macbeth, and is thrown over the edge when he is not appointed the Prince of Cumberland, an honor he feels he deserves. This same hunger for power ultimately destroys Macbeth, leading him to betray all those he loves, including king Duncan, his friend Banquo, and his wife.
Power Corrupts Throughout the history of man, rulers and philosophers have proven. that power corrupts. The British Historian Lord Acton observed that “power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Lord Action statement is proven through the actions of rulers such as Charles I of England and Hitler.
In which case this idea of power leading to corruption is not only true but happens to those least expected to. In William Shakespeares' tragedy, Macbeth, the character Macbeth gains power by killing people and lying, he kills king Duncan out of greed, he kills his "best friends" Banquo out of fear, and then fails to realize that he is not invincible. Power leading to corruption is more of a fact than an idea, in most cases when all is said and done the one with the power isn't who they said they'd be. Macbeth was once a Scottish nobleman whose greed for power became overwhelming, leading to his own demise. Shakespeare begins Macbeth, with the appearance of three witches.
Some theorists believe that ‘power is everywhere: not because it embraces everything, but because it comes from everywhere… power is not an institution, nor a structure, nor possession. It is the name we give to a complex strategic situation in a particular society. (Foucault, 1990: 93) This is because power is present in each individual and in every relationship. It is defined as the ability of a group to get another group to take some form of desired action, usually by consensual power and sometimes by force. (Holmes, Hughes &Julian, 2007) There have been a number of differing views on ‘power over’ the many years in which it has been studied. Theorist such as Anthony Gidden in his works on structuration theory attempts to integrate basic structural analyses and agency-centred traditions. According to this, people are free to act, but they must also use and replicate fundamental structures of power by and through their own actions. Power is wielded and maintained by how one ‘makes a difference’ and based on their decisions and actions, if one fails to exercise power, that is to ‘make a difference’ then power is lost. (Giddens: 1984: 14) However, more recent theorists have revisited older conceptions including the power one has over another and within the decision-making processes, and power, as the ability to set specific, wanted agendas. To put it simply, power is the ability to get others to do something they wouldn’t otherwise do. In the political arena, therefore, power is the ability to make or influence decisions that other people are bound by.
When somebody has sincere and honest goals in life they get their power by gaining peoples trust and they do not get corrupted by it. In most of the cases people who gain power do whatever they like with it; they become greedy, they boss people around, and then they want more power. One who has power can lose their sense of right and wrong so that morals do not matter. Absolute power corrupts those who posses it.
“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great mean are almost always bad men”, Lord Acton once said. First of all, corruption is the misuse of power for private gain. Orwell wanted to show that “absolute power corrupts absolutely” because people abuse power and most of them value accumulation of wealth which leads to dishonest ways, including corruption which is not automatic but gradual. Absolute power corrupts because those that have power tend to abuse it.
In 1887, the English historian and writer John Dalberg Acton, better known as Lord Acton, wrote, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. What can be taken from this quote, is, that power, although necessary for a government or ruler to lead, can become corrupt when not monitored and when given freely. When too much power is acquired, be it by a government or an individual, it tends to corrupt initially positive intentions and may lead to selfishness and greed. Time has shown again and again and proven this to be true, further supporting the reality and issues of absolute power.