Essay about Power and Greed - Macbeth - 1736 Words

Power and Greed: The Driving Force behind the Story of Macbeth The rise of an individual and the gain of power can often be intoxicating. This control placed in the hands of one can often ignite thoughts and actions of greed found deep inside. This can often be seen in the history of civilization as countless leaders have neglected the good of their people to fuel their own selfish desires. Lord Acton once expressed, â€Å"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.† This is embodied in the play, Macbeth by William Shakespeare as numerous characters abuse power to manipulate and destroy the lives of many. Though the examination of, Lady Macbeth, the three witches and Macbeth, it becomes apparent how the gain and loss of†¦show more content†¦The corruption of power through knowledge can become large when the sensitivity of this information is not realized. This is shown in the witches’ use of their knowledge of Macbeth’s fate; their co nsideration for the possible consequences does not seem to be visible throughout the entire play. This is also pointed out by Hecate in the play as she exclaims: To trade and traffic with Macbeth In riddles, and affairs of death; And I, the mistress of your charms, The close contriver of all harms, Was never call’d to bear my part (3.5. 4-9). The scene shows the three witches lack of consideration of the outcome of their prophecy as they did not consult with their higher power, Hecate over whether they should tell Macbeth of his prophecy. Their thoughtless actions caused for many deaths and much corruption amongst themselves and the entire country of Scotland. The witches’ gain of power furthermore corrupted them as they did not tell Macbeth his full prophecy. When the witches first tell Macbeth of his fate the first witch states, â€Å"All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis!† (1.3. 48-50) This is then followed by the second witch claiming â€Å"all hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!† and finally the third witch states, â€Å"All hail Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter!† the prophecy given can be seen as false as they suggest that Macbeth is to be king for a long time when they state â€Å"hereafter†Show MoreRelatedThe Power Of Greed In Macbeth1488 Words   |  6 Pagesplay, Macbeth, there is blood, power and greed; all of which can be read with literal and metaphorical interpretations. They intertwine at different points in the story and have different effects on each of the characters including: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Malcom, and Macduff. These three ideas create a cycle throughout the story, particularly for Macbeth, as greed leading to the spilling of blood, which can give someone power is ultimately his demise. When Shakespeare first mentions Macbeth in theRead MoreMan of Greed and Power: The Tragedy of Macbeth1089 Words   |  5 PagesAmbition for great power leads to the downfall of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. Contributing to the downfall and demise of Macbeth, three sinister witches plan to foil Macbeth through telling him prophecies of his future. But, through the freewill of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth they paved their own road to destruction. Lady Macbeth is a woman who is not mentally strong enough to commit a murder but is mentally capable of persuading someone into committing the crime for her. Macbeth is gullible at firstRead MoreEssay On Greed In The Great Gatsby1101 Words   |  5 Pages The paths of greed and vanity will always lead to ones downfall. The character of Myrtle Wilson from the novel â€Å"The Great Gatsby† written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Lady Macbeth from the play â€Å"Macbeth† by William Shakespeare both successfully demonstrate the deadly sin of greed through their immoral actions to gain their own personal desire for wealth and power, eventually leading to their downfall. To begin, the character of Myrtle Wilson carries out an affair with Tom Buchanan toRead MoreLord of the Flies Macbeth889 Words   |  4 Pagesabout power and how is it being said? Power can change people in a way that is incomprehensible either for good or for evil. Power can make one so greedy that someone will do anything for it and won’t let anyone, or thing stand in their way. Macbeth by William Shakespeare portrays both the positive and negative uses on Power through the main characters. Macbeth’s greed of power allowed him to exercise abuse and ultimately he was corrupted and destroyed by power. Lady Macbeth used power in a positiveRead MoreMacbeth Ambitions967 Words   |  4 Pageshas â€Å"an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, (ex) power, honor, fame, or wealth. The willingness to strive for its attainment†. From this definition I do not even believe that Macbeth really had any ambition of his own. I do not think his ambition was not Macbeth’s greatest weakness but more is gullibility and being able to be swayed into the directions of others. In the story of Macbeth of Macbeths miss fortune is ca used by first the prophecy of the witches and secondly ofRead MoreParallels Between Macduff and Macbeth Essay769 Words   |  4 Pages Parallels Between Macduff and Macbeth In humans, greed will often play a more pronounced role in their actions then morals. In the Shakespearian play Macbeth we see how far greed and ambition has crushed the stability of Scotland and destroyed the lives of multiple lords and innocents. At first we see Macbeth as the glorious hero who â€Å"unseam’d† (1.2.23) the traitor Macdonwald in the defense of his King and Country, yet turns into a king who is powerless and paranoid. The downfall of the usurperRead MoreAmbition And Ambition In Macbeth1240 Words   |  5 Pagesintroduced to Macbeth in the play, King Duncan of Scotland is hearing how General Macbeth and General Banquo subdued Norwegian forces and arrested the Thane of Cawdor for treason. He seems to have a high moral standing and is a strong character, but Macbeth and Banquo meet three witches in the woods, they refer to him as Baron of Glamis, Baron of Cawdor, and then king. They also say that although Macbeth will be king, Banquos sons will become kin gs as well, even if Banquo will not. Macbeth was alreadyRead MoreGreed in Macbeth Essay1018 Words   |  5 PagesGreed is the excessive desire to acquire or possess more, and it is also one of the biggest creators of tragedy. This is so vividly shown in both the novel The Sun Also Rises and in the play Macbeth. In The Sun Also Rises, this greed is directed toward a person, Lady Brett Ashley. Five men; Mike, Jake, Pedro, Bill, and the Count, are fighting to be with her throughout the book. In Macbeth, this greed is directed toward power as Macbeth wanted to become King, and what he does to become it. HoweverRead MoreThe Destruction of Guilt in Macbeth by William Shakespeare1168 Words   |  5 Pages In William Shakespeares play Macbeth he uses many forms of imagery, he uses this imagery to outline major themes in the book. The imagery used in the play Macbeth makes the audience immediately captivated and helps the audience connect to the characters in the play. Two major themes will be outlined in this essay and those themes will be supported and outlined by three motifs: ambition/greed, fate and hallucinations. A profound theme throughout the book Macbeth is the underlying inevitabilityRead MoreGreed In Macbeth1034 Words   |  5 PagesWilliam shakespeares play, Macbeth, there is a constant struggle for power that is displayed by Macbeth. The play demonstrates one of human’s strongest nature which seems to be the desire for power. This play is entirely based on Macbeth’s greed for power. As Macbeth gained more power, his behavior shifts from being a loyal and noble warrior to a power hungry man. He is a prime example of a character that is struggling to free himself from powers of others or seeks to gain power over others. Throughout