William Shakespeare's Macbeth

William Shakespeare's Macbeth

“Power Corrupts, Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.”(Voltaire) means

that the more power one has the more corrupt they become. One that has

power generally abuses it. In Macbeth many different people have

power, and each use their power in a different way. Lady Macbeth and

the three witches, they have power over Macbeth, playing on his

emotions, superstitions and especially his fatal flaw- Ambition.

Macbeth has little power over his equals so his ambitions cause him to

reach for other powers.

At the opening of the play Macbeth is hailed as brave, the hero of the

battle against Norway. The captain says “Brave Macbeth well he

deserves that name”, (I,ii,16) and later to show his hunters skill

against the invaders “As sparrows, eagles or the hare, the

lion”,(I,ii,35)

Duncan, the king calls him “Noble Macbeth”,(I,ii,66) in recognition of

his brave deeds and loyalty to his king. The king then ironically

gave him the title of Thane of Cawdor because the previous thane

betrayed the king “No more that Thane of Cawdor deceive…. And with his

former title greet Macbeth”, (I,iii,63). We catch a glimpse of how

well the witches play on his ambition when he thinks immediately of

their proposition once Duncan mentions naming his heir.

By the end of the play Macbeth is regarded as a tyrant, he kills

indiscriminately to hold on to power. He also shows arrogance and

disdain when dismissing medicine because it cannot save Lady Macbeth.

In his speech on hearing of his wife Lady Macbeth’s death he tries to

pass on responsibility by blaming everything on fate, likening himself

to an actor on the stage “ Life’s but a walking shadow that struts and

frets his hour on the stage”, (V,v,23).

From the first time heard the witches’ predictions Macbeth was haunted

by them. The fact that the first two (becoming thane of Glamis and

Thane of Cawdor) came true affects Macbeth. He believes he will not

have to do anything to become King “If chance will have me King then