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Use Of Power In Macbeth

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Power can be used to achieve greatness and create a positive nature in the world, but it also has the ability to create havoc and chaos if in the wrong hands. In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the main character, Macbeth, gains power quickly in terrible ways, and abuses the power to create pandemonium in Scotland. He was informed about a prophecy which foretold his future with many complications ahead of him. As the play progresses, Macbeth may be characterized as a hero who submerges to evil to become the villain, due to his ambition, maliciousness, and wickedness. In the beginning, Macbeth portrays himself as honorable and faithful to his king, but it is clear to say that he is the complete opposite. Soon after the three witches tell him that …show more content…

To do what is necessary to remain in power, he goes into drastic measures by telling his messenger, “Hang those that talk of fear” (V.iii.38). He is compelled to think that whatever or whoever is spreading fear or opposing him should perish. In addition, he intimidates his messenger after being told the Birnam Woods is moving to his castle by stating, “If thou speak’st false, upon the next tree shall thou hang alive till famine cling thee” (V.v.37). Shocked about the news, he threatens to take the life of his messenger for lying because what the messenger said about the forest moving makes the prophecy true. Macbeth will kill anyone to stay in power for his time being. While Macbeth was one of the heroes of Scotland, he soon turned out to be the villain by the end of the play, because his lust for power takes over his mind which makes him do things that he would not normally do. The ambition that strove his body to pursue power, the malicious feeling that he felt, and the wicked mind he possesses resulted his outcome of losing everything he had, including his life. Power can enhance someone’s life tremendously as well as it can also destroy their life terribly. It all depends on how the user handles

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