Power is defined as “control or authority over others” (OED). It has a way of encouraging and manipulating people into doing what the powerful say. In the play Macbeth, there are numerous characters that hold power. An easy assumption to make would be that Macbeth wields the most power because of his actions throughout the play, such as murder, deceit and treachery. Macbeth orchestrates three acts of murder - the King, General Banquo, and Lady Macduff and her child - he is told in doing so will give him power. He is advised by three witches who gather to recite a prophecy for General Macbeth and General Banquo. The witches inform Macbeth that he will be the “Thane of Glamis”, “Thane of Cawdor”, and “shalt be king hereafter.” Their prophecy for General Banquo is that he will be “lesser than Macbeth, and greater” and “not so happy, yet much happier.” Macbeth would have never contemplated these evil plots until he comes across the three witches. While these three characters are not a main fixture in the play Macbeth, they ultimately hold the most power, as every action Macbeth executes is a result of their spells. To begin with, the witches’ prophecy that Macbeth will be King of Scotland tempts him with the promise of higher …show more content…
Macbeth begins to fear General Banquo’s nobleness and honesty because he knows Banquo is a more honorable man than he is. He began to like the feel of power and became fearful that Banquo was starting to suspect that he killed the King for his position. Macbeth did not want anyone to be greater than he was, nor did he want anyone to find out how he got his title. Macbeth uses his power for ill purposes by convincing two murderers that Banquo is the enemy and that he must be killed. The witches’ prophecy is what led Macbeth to become fearful of General Banquo’s