Power And Corruption In Macbeth

"Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it" (Lord Acton, British Historian). It is in the human nature for one to commit more corrupt actions if a greater amount of power is provided. Individuals with an excess amount of power tend to imagine what their life would be like with that certain something in their life, which elucidates what the individual really wants to see, and how it can come to be. In this case, when power results in corruption, it mainly happens to those that least expect it. In the play Macbeth written by William Shakespeare, the tragedy of Macbeth, he gained most of his power through the works of lying and killing individuals, thus resulting in the murder of Duncan and Banquo due to the great amount of fear that began to develop, which lead to his tragic downfall. Firstly, Shakespeare develops the forces that encourage an individual’s actions through the mischievous plans of Macbeth against the murder of Duncan. Secondly, one of the most profound themes of this play was allowing power to be exerted on another individual, preferably one who had authority over the other. Lastly, the major recurring theme of this play is the imagery of blood, as it is used to symbolize the varying feelings that recur due to feelings of guilt and unhappiness of many characters, thus leading to eternal feelings of sadness and fear. In the play Macbeth, the forces that inhibit or encourage an individual 's actions are clearly portrayed through the