Power Corrupted In Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'

Macbeth Power corrupts. A simple truth, oft repeated. However, for Macbeth, that truth became all too real, as he became corrupted simply to attain power. At the beginning of Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, the title character is a Thane in Scotland, a high rank. On his journey home from war, he and his friend Banquo encounter three witches, who appear, as Banquo describes them, as “women, and yet your beards forbid me to interpret that you are so.” (1.3.47-48) These hags prophesy that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor, to add to his title Thane of Glamis, and, eventually, king. Confounded, Macbeth demands an explanation, though none is forthcoming. Later, he discovers that he has indeed taken the title Thane of Cawdor, due to the rebellion of the former Thane.

For one, there was his trusty partner and best friend, Banquo. From the beginning, Banquo distrusted the witches and their prophesies, cautioning his friend not to take them seriously. If someone would have tried to persuade Macbeth to murder the king, it assuredly would not have been Banquo. Despite noble Banquo’s close relationship with the title character, one person held more sway over the Thane of Glamis than anyone, perhaps even the Thane himself: Lady Macbeth. Indeed, she assists Macbeth in the heinous crime, constantly pressing him to cast aside his apprehensions. Mourning the weakness and inability of her gender, Lady Macbeth urges her husband to follow through with their devious designs. Inevitably, he gives in and completes the first of many horrendous deeds. Out of all his associates, Macbeth’s wife may actually have pushed him to murder to obtain the kingdom, with or without a prophecy. Yet, she could have had apprehensions of her own, or doubted her husband’s ability, thus deciding to keep her ambitions to herself. One thing is certain: she is a twisted enough person to contemplate such a purely evil