Power and Greed as the Driving Force behind Macbeth’s Story
The story of Macbeth showcases how the rise of an individual and the acquisition of power can be intoxicating. This newfound control often awakens deep-seated thoughts and actions driven by greed. Countless leaders throughout history have put their own selfish desires above the well-being of their people, illustrating Lord Acton’s famous quote, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” This corruption is epitomized in William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, where numerous characters manipulate and destroy the lives of others in their pursuit of power. Through an examination of Lady Macbeth, the three witches, and Macbeth himself, it becomes evident how the gain and loss of power significantly corrupt them. Lady Macbeth’s power over her relationship with Macbeth corrupts her thoughts and actions, evident in her savagery, emotional suppression, and transformation as she gradually loses power.
Lady Macbeth’s corruption and savagery becomes evident once she assumes power. Upon receiving a letter from Macbeth informing her of the witches’ prophecy that he will become king, Lady Macbeth immediately plans to murder King Duncan. She declares, “that my keen knife see not the wound it makes” (1. 5. 52), emphasizing how her influence over Macbeth has driven her to engage in such brutal actions in order to aid her husband in obtaining the throne.
Lady Macbeth’s power in her relationship corrupted her actions as she effectively portrayed herself as an innocent lady. This deception is particularly evident after the murder of Duncan when she cunningly tricks the nobles into believing that she has become shocked by the news, exclaiming, “woe, alas! What, in our house?” (2.3.86-87). Lady Macbeth then faints and is carried away.
Not only does Lady Macbeth’s line convey the corruption that has affected her, but it also highlights her skilled acting as she later faints. Her actions while in power appear deceitful, demonstrating how power has greatly corrupted her. As she loses power, Lady Macbeth undergoes a shift in her actions and roles, taking on a more traditional woman’s role in contrast to her previous ability to manipulate her emotions and actions.
When we examine Lady Macbeth’s perception of Macbeth before and after she gains power over him, it becomes clear that she holds a distinct viewpoint. In their initial encounter, Lady Macbeth looks down upon her husband and describes him as someone whose nature is too kind to take the quickest path, saying, “I fear thy [Macbeth’s] nature, is it too full o’the milk of kindness to catch the nearest way.” (1. 5. 16-18) This demonstrates Lady Macbeth’s belief that she surpasses her husband, which was an unconventional perspective for a woman during the time the play was written.
Once Lady Macbeth loses power over Macbeth, she begins to follow him instead of guiding him. She expresses how she has been neglected by Macbeth, 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 demonstrates Lady Macbeth’s change in spirit as she realizes that she no longer controls Macbeth. Through this soliloquy, Lady Macbeth conforms to the stereotypical Shakespearean portrayal of women by no longer partaking in corrupt acts.
Further evidence suggests that Lady Macbeth has undergone a role reversal, becoming weak as evidenced by her bouts of sleep talking and night terrors. This decline in power ultimately drives her to take her own life. Thus, observing the actions of Lady Macbeth when she had control over Macbeth and comparing them to when she did not can lead viewers to infer that being exposed to the witches’ knowledge corrupted her. The witches themselves were corrupted by their possession of knowledge as they were oblivious to the consequences that accompanied their prophecies, manipulating Macbeth and withholding the complete prophecy.
The witches’ use of their knowledge of Macbeth’s fate demonstrates the corruption of power through knowledge, as their lack of consideration for the potential consequences is evident throughout the entire play. This is further emphasized by Hecate, who exclaims that she was never consulted in trading and interacting with Macbeth on matters of death, despite being the mistress of their charms and the orchestrator of all harm (3. 5. 4-9).
The scene depicts the three witches’ lack of consideration regarding the consequences of their prophecy. They neglected to consult their higher power, Hecate, to determine whether revealing Macbeth’s prophecy was wise. Their thoughtless actions resulted in numerous deaths and widespread corruption throughout Scotland. Furthermore, gaining power corrupted the witches, leading them to withhold Macbeth’s complete prophecy. When the witches initially inform Macbeth of his fate, the first witch proclaims, “All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis!” (1.3.48-50). The second witch then follows with the statement, “all hail Macbeth!”
The three witches prophesize to Macbeth, with the first stating “Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!” and the second declaring “All hail Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter!” However, their prophecy can be seen as deceptive because they suggest that Macbeth will be king for a long time by using the word “hereafter.” Additionally, they do not mention the rest of Macbeth’s prophecy until later in the play. This misleads Macbeth into believing that achieving kingship will guarantee a prosperous life indefinitely. If the witches had revealed his full prophecy, Macbeth would have understood the dangers associated with obtaining the throne through murder.
The witches were blinded by their power and failed to realize their corruption. They also manipulated Macbeth through their ambiguous prophecies. When Macbeth seeks further information on his prophecy, the witches deceive him by producing an apparition that claims, “the power of man: for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth” (4.1. 80-81). This misleading prophecy gives Macbeth the false impression that he is safe from being killed, fostering his ego as he continues to tyrannize Scotland.
The witches, blinded by corruption, fail to realize that Macbeth will continue to tyrant the land with the new information they have given him. As a result of their power over his fate, their actions and thoughts become corrupted. While many characters become corrupted with power, it is most evident in Macbeth as gaining kingship enables him to commit murder more easily, makes him more self-centered, and isolates him from his family. Similar to Lady Macbeth, the audience witnesses a transformation in Macbeth’s character throughout the play.
Although Lady Macbeth’s rejection of murder becomes evident as the story progresses, Macbeth takes the opposite path by increasing his use of it without any rationality. This shift is evident when Macbeth contemplates killing Duncan, saying “if the assassination could trammel up the consequence/ bloody instruction, which being thought, return to plague the inventor” (1. 7. 1-10). Macbeth’s perception of murder changes drastically when he decides to kill Banquo, stating that “I require a clearness/ Fleance, his son [Banquo’s], that keeps him company/ must embrace the fate of the dark hour” (3. 133-137). The contrast between these two scenes highlights the significant transformation that Macbeth undergoes. In the initial scene, Macbeth dwells upon the repercussions of Duncan’s murder to an excessive degree, reflecting upon karma and related concepts. However, in the subsequent scene, after acquiring power, Macbeth’s order to kill Banquo appears devoid of emotion and solely focused on one objective: eliminating Banquo and Fleance without implicating himself. This demonstrates how power corrupts Macbeth, as it amplifies his selfish desires while disregarding the welfare of his country.
The corruption of power can be observed in Macbeth’s control over Scotland, as described by Ross: “where violent sorrow seems modern ecstasy: the dead man’s knell is there scarce ask’d for who…” (4.3.169-171). This shows that Macbeth’s influence has tainted not only himself, but the entire country, with violence and death becoming commonplace without question. Additionally, Macbeth’s ascent to power negatively affects his relationship with his wife, as he begins isolating himself. Lady Macbeth expresses her feelings of being excluded when she asks, “How now my lord, why do you keep alone” (3..8). This reveals how Macbeth, consumed by grief and power, has kept everything to himself. This isolation plays a significant role in his corruption, fueling his arrogance as a leader. In conclusion, the corruptive nature of power is most evident in Macbeth’s transformation of character, personality, and relationship with his family. By examining Lady Macbeth, the three witches, and Macbeth himself, it becomes clear how power can corrupt individuals. Shakespeare effectively encapsulates this theme in the story by illustrating the changes the characters undergo as they gain or lose power. Similar to historical figures, these characters misuse power for personal desires such as obtaining more power, indulging in luxury, or causing chaos. Ultimately, the statement “power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” holds true.Power is a delicate aspect of society, which can potentially cause chaos and corruption if not wielded wisely. As Stan Lee wisely stated, “with great power there must also come great responsibility.”
