Consequences Of Thirst For Power In Macbeth By William Shakespeare

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The Consequences of Thirst for Power What is power? How can one gain power? Is gaining power a good thing or is gaining power a bad thing? Power is the ability to do or act. Many people wish to have the authority of power in order to control others so they can have things go the way they desire. Power can be a great tool to have if it is not abused. Sometimes power is achieved in the wrong way. For instance, committing an act of evil is the wrong way one can gain power. Many people believe they have the right to posses power if they have a higher status; however, they are wrong. Power is not always a right. It is a privilege that you earn. Macbeth gained power by murdering Duncan and took upon his position as the king. After sometime, Macbeth…show more content…
However he had attained his power in a negative way. In order to attain this power, Macbeth was negatively influenced by his wife Lady Macbeth. Macbeth was a noble and worthy man. He was the general in the king’s army. He was an honest, sensible young man, until he fell upon the witches’ spell and was victimized by his wife’s evilness. Macbeth was under the spell of three witches who claimed that he would be appointed as king after the death of the present king, Duncan. The witches chanted, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! / All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! / All hail, Macbeth shalt be king hereafter.” (I.iii.50-53). When Lady Macbeth discovered the witches’ prophecy; she encouraged her husband, Macbeth, to kill Duncan. Although Macbeth was terrified and against the idea of killing the king, one night he went into Duncan’s room and stabbed him to death. When the kingdom came to know about the death of the king, everyone was dazed. Furthermore, Macbeth began to regret the sin he had committed. “I am afraid to think of what I have done; Look on’t again I dare not.” (II.ii.66-67). After Duncan’s burial, it was discovered that Macbeth had been pronounced king. In the beginning of this play, nobody thought Macbeth was capable of co committing murder. Nevertheless, his wife forced evil into his mind. Without Lady Macbeth, Macbeth would not have been able to kill Duncan. Therefore Lady Macbeth played a big role in influencing her husband to become king and gain power in regretful

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