In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth’s quest for power leads to a tyrannical downfall; even those disinclined to cruelty become captured in a cycle of retribution and corruption, which teaches how power can easily corrupt those who seek it. At the start of the second scene, readers are introduced to the three witches. The three witches each give Macbeth three prophecies, which got Macbeth thinking that he could be something greater than he currently is. Included in these prophecies are the titles including the Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and King hereafter. Along with the prophecies given to Macbeth, Banquo is also given prophecies that state he is both greater and lesser than Macbeth. With these prophecies given to Banquo, it makes Macbeth rather mad, because Banquo’s prophecies granted him a higher rank in power. …show more content…
Since there already is a King, Macbeth wants to kill him because he wants to be King. Shortly after Macbeth is given the prophecies and hears Banquo's prophecies he begins to plot the killing of the current King, Duncan. This is the start where readers are shown that power can corrupt someone. Readers are also shown that Macbeth is a bit disinclined, after he plots out the murder of Duncan, and when the time comes to pursue the murder, Macbeth hesitates and doesn’t want to follow through with it anymore. When Macbeth tells his wife Lady Macbeth that he doesn’t want to follow through with the murder, Lady Macbeth calls Macbeth every bad name in the book, and also says that he isn’t a man anymore. After hearing that, Macbeth really thinks about it and follows through with it. After the murder is done Macbeth says: “I go, and it is done: the bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a Knell That summons thee to heaven, or to hell” (II, i,