Macbeth Power Changes

In the play, Macbeth by William Shakespeare, we receive a first hand look at the effects of power in the hands of two unruly sinners, Macbeth, and his wife, Lady Macbeth. Macbeth receives a prophecy and immediately starts to act on it with the help of his evil lover, Lady Macbeth. Macbeth eventually turns on his closest friends and changes into a completely different and terrible person. Macbeth wants it all-- power, rule and everything in between. The only thing bad about his desires is that he wants everything the incorrect way. Eventually, Macbeth’s obsession with having power becomes the death of him.

In the beginning, Macbeth is a somewhat amiable man. He has all he could possibly need at the current moment; Macbeth is the Thane of Glamis
and a Scottish General, he has an interesting wife and a beautiful castle. Unfortunately, Macbeth falls prey to a tragic case of selfishness. The beginning of Macbeth’s fall into sin should somewhat be accredited to his wife, Lady Macbeth. Macbeth is honestly of good character; earlier when he is told he is going to be the Thane of Cawdor, he is somewhat troubled. “(aside) If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me without my stir.” (I, iii, 148-149). Macbeth wants power right away, but does not want the pain that goes along with it. Macbeth is almost reluctant to go through with anything illegal, even though his wife is pressuring him to do what he has to do to make it to the throne. “Look like th’ innocent flower, but be the serpent under ‘t...only look up clear. To alter favor ever is to fear. Leave all the rest to me.” (I, v, 67-68, 74-76)). This is where we first see the true character of Lady Macbeth, which just so happens to be completely opposite from her husband’s noble character. What will eventually make Macbeth crack? is it the pressure of his wife or the desire to be something great in the eyes of men?

Later on, in the play we get a better understanding of Macbeth’s true character; it is almost as if his wife’s cold ways have taken hold of his good character and is starting to slowly strangle the goodness from within him.
Macbeth is extremely conflicted on what to do-- make his wife happy and become king the wrong way, or wait out the prophecy of the witches and enjoy what he has now. Macbeth tragically makes the wrong decision when he decides to murder the king in cold blood in his castle in Inverness. At this point, Macbeth’s character is still somewhat intact; it is obvious that he regrets killing Duncan. “I’ll go no more: I am afraid of what I have done; Look on ‘t again I dare not.” (II,ii, 48-50). Macbeth is only trying to make his wife, Lady Macbeth, happy. This unfortunately is the start of Macbeth’s tragic fall into evil and corruption. Once Macbeth gets away with the murder of Duncan and the two guards it is as if he feels invincible and especially since the sons of Duncan are the main suspects. Before they flee to their places of choice the Old Man leaves them with some invaluable words of wisdom: “God’s benison go with you and with those that would make good of bad and friend of foes.” (II, iv, 41-42). These words actually come into play later in the piece, which is somewhat significant. We officially begin to see Macbeth’s foul character when he has his best friend, Banquo, murdered before his [Macbeth’s] fancy dinner. “I’ll call upon you straight. Abide
within. It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight, If it find heaven, must find it out tonight.” (III, i, 140-142). It would take tremendous amounts of courage and hatred to kill your best friend and especially one that you are significantly bonded with as Macbeth and Banquo were bonded together. Macbeth is a good actor too, because for a good while no one suspected that he was the murderer until they looked closer into his deteriorating character and newly adopted dark ways. Macbeth is however, being affected by the murders still; he begins with feeling a little down and sad, but now he is having hallucinations and that he cannot sleep due to visions about Fleance and his potential to become lethal, which eventually could be a very bad thing for Macbeth and his loyal or not so loyal servants. “Thanks for that. There the grown serpent lies. The worm that’s fled hath nature that in time will venom breed; no teeth for th’ present. Get thee gone. Tomorrow we’ll hear ourselves again.” (III, iv, 28-32). Macbeth is of course grateful to the murderers for their help in the murder of his friend although he is just the slightest bit angry that they let Banquo’s son, Fleance get away from them.

Towards the end of the play, we truly see the sinful nature of Macbeth coming to surface. Macbeth is feeling quite confident in himself since the latest prophecy from the witches. The witches have Macbeth listen to three vital apparitions-- to fear Macduff, that no one will ever harm him and that he will never be defeated. The witches explain it to him quite nicely: “Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff. Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough...Laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth...Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsindane Hill shall come again.” ( IV, i, 71-72, 79-81, 93-95). This is partly responsible for Macbeth’s confidence in facing adversity. Macbeth believes that the soldiers that plan to take over his fortress are completely useless-- for them; little does he know that this will be the last time he will ever be King. When Macduff comes to Macbeth to battle him, Macbeth decides to brag on his good luck given to him by the witches to Macduff: “...I bear a charmed life, which must not yield to one of woman born.” (V, viii, 12-13). Macduff was fortunately not born, but removed from his mother’s loving womb. “Despair thy charm, and let the angel whom thou still hast served tell thee, Macduff was from his mother’s womb untimely ripped.” (V, viii, 13-16). Macbeth and Macduff duel and Macbeth is eventually slain by the noble Macduff in his own palace. Macduff enters the room where Siward, Ross and Malcolm are dwelling, carrying Macbeth’s severed head. “Hail, king! For so thou art. Behold where stands the usurper’s cursed head. The time is free. I see thee compassed with thy kingdom’s pearl, that speak my salutation in their minds.” (V, viii, 54-57). It is quite evident that everyone is quite aware of Macbeth’s evil character and they know that he is an evil, ruthless tyrant. Macbeth is so desperate for power that it completely kills his character and eventually, it becomes the reason for his murder.

In conclusion, Macbeth’s obsession with making his wife happy and being powerful eventually became his cause of death.
Macbeth started off a admirable man with all the power man should healthily possess, but his desire for more power than he could handle and manage responsibly became too much for him. Shakespeare’s play can be applied to everyday life and even our world today: Too much power can be detrimental to not only one person, but an entire nation. The sin of Macbeth touched many people in a negative way. If only Macbeth would have listened to his heart and not his evil, worldly
life.