Shakespeare's Presentation Of Power In Macbeth By William Shakespeare

In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, Shakespeare presents power through the main character’s objective, to become the ruler. Macbeth looks forward to his ‘rise’ as king but instead, he wants as much control as he conceivably can and this eventually leads to his downfall. He listens to the prediction of the witches and gets to be so fixated on satisfying the prediction since it states that he will inevitably get to be a ruler. Having this information, Macbeth goes out of his way to constrain the prediction to come genuine. Shakespeare showed Macbeth as a power-hungry person who goes on to commit violent and treasonous acts because of his desires.

Shakespeare introduces the concept of supernatural power in the play through the witches, who make three

Lady Macbeth's ruthless nature is revealed when she explains that she would "dash the brains" of her own child if she had sworn to do so, just as Macbeth had sworn to murder the ruler. Furthermore, she questions Macbeth's manliness, stating that he is "too full of the milk of human kindness" (Act 1, Scene 5), suggesting that he is weak and lacks the ruthlessness necessary to seize power. This quote showcases Shakespeare's use of metaphor to depict power as a potent force that can be harnessed or manipulated for personal gain. Lady Macbeth's manipulative and assertive nature highlights how power can be wielded to influence and shape the actions of others, and how individuals may resort to ruthless measures to achieve their

Macbeth's soliloquy in Act 3, Scene 1, reveals his internal struggle with the consequences of his actions after committing regicide. He expresses fear of losing the power he gained through immoral means, indicating his obsession with retaining his newfound authority. Shakespeare shows how Macbeth has become consumed by his ambition, stating, "Crowned with a title and not yet crowned withal," indicating that his lust for power has yet to be satisfied. The repetition of “Crowned” shows his obsession with power leads to Macbeth's alienation from those around him, as he sees "no son of mine succeeding" him and becomes increasingly paranoid about potential threats to his rule. Shakespeare also uses imagery to convey the seductive and corrupting nature of power. Macbeth speaks of the "scorpions" that will crawl into his mind if he fails to secure his power, indicating the mental torment he is experiencing. Through Macbeth's character, Shakespeare depicts how ambition and ruthlessness in the pursuit of power can lead to flaws and vulnerabilities in monarchy, challenging the belief in the divine right of kings. He suggests that absolute authority can be misused, resulting in disastrous consequences, and highlights that the source of power does not guarantee morality or righteousness. Shakespeare also uses imagery, such as