Abuse Of Power In Macbeth

Words: 547
Pages: 3

"It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it. Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely." (Aung San Suu Kyi) In the play "Macbeth", written by Shakespeare, one of the main themes of the story is that power corrupts. Shakespeare shows how dangerous a kingdom of corrupt higher ups can be. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are prime examples as the most corrupt of all characters in the play, gaining and keeping their power by killing mercilessly. Their want causes them to go above and beyond all rational reasoning as they decide to become king and queen by any means necessary, including the assassination of the current king himself, King Duncan, just for his position and power. This kind of power placed in the hands of a person who previously had little to no power will use power to destroy the lives of those …show more content…
5. 16-18). Lady Macbeth shows an unusual sense of superiority over her husband, which is strange because of the time period the play was written in. She no longer had power over Macbeth and instead seems to try guiding him instead of controlling him. She expresses how neglected by Macbeth she feels by saying, "Nought's had, all's spent. Where our desire is got without content: 'Tis safer to be that which we destroy. Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy." (3. 2. 4-7). This shows her change in personality after she loses power over her husband. She slowly slips into the usual role of a traditional woman no longer committing corrupt acts. It can be shown that she has completely flipped personalities now having night terrors and sleep talking her