Comparing Power In 'Lord Of The Flies And Macbeth'

Claim: In "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding and "The Tragedy of Macbeth" by William Shakespeare, the characters, Jack and Macbeth, respectively, undergo a significant transformation due to their insatiable desire for power, ultimately resulting in their descent into violence and resort to nefarious means through the use of violence as a means to attain and maintain power. Evidence: In "Lord of the Flies", Jack, initially portrayed as a charismatic leader to a certain extent then transforming into a tyrannical dictator as his desire for power and control over the group of stranded schoolboys becomes increasingly apparent. Through his manipulation of the other boys and his aggressive pursuit of leadership, Jack becomes the embodiment of

Furthermore, the use of violence in the novel serves as a symbol of Jack's corruption, as he uses violence as a means to maintain control over the group, for example, when he leads the group to hunt and eventually kill Simon, and when he and his group attack Ralph's group. Similarly, in "The Tragedy of Macbeth", Macbeth, initially portrayed as a noble and honorable man, transforms into a ruthless dictator as his ambition and insatiable desire for power leads him to commit increasingly violent and nefarious acts. Macbeth's transformation is clear when he says "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on the other" (Act 1, Scene 7, Lines 25-27). This quote illustrates how Macbeth's ambition is the driving force behind his actions, and how it's an uncontrollable force that leads him to do terrible things. Furthermore, the use of bloodshed and violence in the play serves as a symbol of Macbeth's corruption, as he continues to kill to maintain his power, for example, the murder of king Duncan, and the massacre of Banquo and Macduff's