Macbeth Power Analysis

Words: 1051
Pages: 5
Open Document
Power can be a tool used to achieve a man’s heartfelt desire. Such is the case for the protagonist, Macbeth, in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. After three crones inform him of three prophecies: thane of Glamis and Cawdor, king hereafter, and Banquo’s children will become king, Macbeth is not content with allowing fate to run its course. Soon enough, he joins with his wife to commit murder and ensure that the most sought after prophecy is fulfilled, a kingship. As Macbeth attempts to protect his ambition, his actions go from that of being a noble thane to a man of paranoia, suspicion, and inner turmoil. Macbeth struggles with the notion of killing his king; however, once he engages in such evil behavior, additional violence does not cause …show more content…
He ends up transforming into a ruthless and ambitious leader who is not afraid to create destruction as he works towards the end goal of power. Macbeth decides to murder his friend Banquo to ensure that no one can threaten the possibility of his kingship, and succeeds in killing Banquo but not his son Fleance. Before these events, the driving force behind his violent intentions was his wife Lady Macbeth. It was she who had originally pushed him to kill Duncan in order achieve his objective, but now the tables are turning and he is starting to become more vindictive in his intentions. Macbeth receives the news that Banquo is dead during a banquet with royals, and he begins to see the ghost of Banquo. This event is the turning point in his mental stability, and the beginning of when the Lords question his ability to be king. Lady Macbeth is forced to make excuses for her husband’s actions: “My lord is often thus/ and hath been from his youth. Pray you, keep seat./ The fit is momentary; upon a thought /He will again be well” (3.4.64-67). She reassures them that all is well and that her husband is well fit to be king as these episodes are just a minor illness that have happened since he was young. Macbeth’s visions foreshadow the dark future that he is about to
Show More

Related Documents: Macbeth Power Analysis

Macbeth Lust For Power Analysis

The Tragedy of Macbeth tells a story about a thane named Macbeth who must overcome obstacles in order to acquire and maintain power to be king. He does this along with the pressure of his persuasive and ambitious wife, Lady Macbeth. The play is set in Scotland around the 1600, which is during the time of the Renaissance. The playwright, William Shakespeare uses the theme of lust for power to display at length what drives these characters to achieve what they want. Macbeth and his wife have certain…

Words 855 - Pages 4

Macbeth Power And Unchecked Ambition Analysis

predicted that Macbeth will become the king, it awakened his murderous ambition. Even though at first he questioned his ability to fulfill that prophecy, it is evident that he had a great desire for power. He begins to gain the desire to obtain the crown and decides to use violence as the method to quest for power. Furthermore, this relates back to the theme that an individual's character and appearance can quickly become corrupted under the influence of power and unchecked ambition. Macbeth allowed himself…

Words 99 - Pages 1

Essay on Annotated Bibliography Form

Annotated Bibliography Form Your Name: Jeremy Marshall Your Class: (circle 1) 8:00 // 9:30 // 11:00 Article Citation #1: MLA Citation: "Claudius And Macbeth: A Comparison Between A Villain And A Tragic-Hero." (2011): OAIster. Web. 26 Apr. 2015. Summary Macbeth and Claudius have a lot of similarities have a lot of similarities, for an example both are murders and are tyrants. They share one particular characteristic there both hero-villains. They even display some characteristics…

Words 638 - Pages 3

Ambition Is To Blame In Shakespeare's Macbeth

success stories, however in “Macbeth” by Shakespeare, ambition is what ultimately led to Macbeth’s downfall. His wife, Lady Macbeth, contributed to Macbeth’s political and physical collapse as well as the Three Witches. Although ambition is a quality needed in order to succeed, in Macbeth’s case, it was a key component to his death. Lady Macbeth was the fuel to Macbeth’s fire. Her ambition to be in power with her husband was reflected in Macbeth. A literary analysis states that “To be the wife is…

Words 491 - Pages 2

Macbeth Portfolio Essay

Service Announcement about Taco Bell The first item I am comparing the play “Macbeth” with is a PSA about tacos. This PSA is trying to raise awareness amongst people about fake images being put in the advertisement just to persuade people to buy their products. I am relating this to the characters in the play who are not like what they appear to be. Analysis: Theme Connection – Appearance vs. Reality Macbeth starts off being a very good and loyal to his king, but as the play evolves on he…

Words 1082 - Pages 5

Shakespeare Major Paper

reasons behind the psychosis of Shakespeare’s characters and what led to their insanity. The author expresses insight for not only the themes of madness in Hamlet but also helps explain the aspect of madness in one Shakespeare’s other plays, Macbeth. Through her analysis, Coddon successfully offers her readers a deeper understanding of Shakespeare’s choice to portray his characters in this way and provides the…

Words 2852 - Pages 12

me and myself Essay

Sebastian Merfea Jean Karpowich English 11 Honors March 18, 2013 Analysis of Macbeth by William Shakespeare Macbeth by William Shakespeare is set in year 1000 in Scotland. This dark, pagan atmosphere suits the thunder and lightning and the meeting of the three witches. Their use of the contradiction “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (I, 1, 12) immediately introduces the concept of contradiction, that things are not always what they seem. In scene 2 the mood quickly shifts. In the camp, a bleeding…

Words 676 - Pages 3

Macbeth Act Essay

Within In the drama of Macbeth, there is an inner battle that Macbeth faces. He yearns to be respected as a great leader, but at the same time his thirst for power cannot be quenched until he is crowned king. After he is told his prophecy by the witches, he becomes like a child waiting for Christmas. He grows anxious and impatient waiting for his crown and eventually decides to take matters into his own hands and make his own prophecy a reality. Macbeth becomes a monster in the play.…

Words 1174 - Pages 5

Macbeth Vs Macduff Analysis

In the beginning of the Shakespearean story “Macbeth”, many characters change throughout the story, often times through the deception of others. Whether they’re the ones being deceived or doing the deceiving, Macbeth and Macduff are two characters similar in name, and the similarities just about end there. Some may beg to differ, as in the beginning of the story, both are held to a high position, one worthy of being praised even. Sadly, as any Shakespearean play goes, you’re either pure at heart…

Words 826 - Pages 4

Essay on Feminist Theory Of Macbeth Ahmadiah

Ahmadiah Mohammad Ms. Barr Global Literary January 16, 2014 The Feminist Theory of Macbeth Shakespeare's Macbeth is a tragedy that represent the action of male and female power, a play which seems to dramatize the deep divisions that characterize male­female relationships in all his plays of Lady Macbeth, that her sole purpose throughout the play is "that of overcoming the scruples of her ambitious and yet tender­minded husband.She is ready to sacrifice even her womanly to her murderous…

Words 1445 - Pages 6