The Role Of Leadership In Macbeth

Macbeth would’ve succeeded in reducing his enemies by surrounding himself with trusted allies and developing relationships that would allow him to flourish as a leader. Macbeth, by killing Duncan and Banquo, lost the respect of those around him. Machiavelli proposed that “it cannot be called prowess… to betray friends” (Machiavelli 29), and this brings a prince “power but not glory” (29). The glory that Macbeth is unable to procure prevents Lennox, Macduff, and Malcolm from recognizing him as a great leader. For that, Machiavelli states that due to “brutal cruelty and inhumanity… forbid[s] his being honoured among eminent men” (30). Any of Macbeth’s accomplishments will now always be seen as inhumane and cruel, even if he were to use “fortune
As the story progressed, Macbeth’s faults began to force his motivation to decline, losing Lady Macbeth’s motivation and starting to assess situations blindly with a lack of motivation halted his good leadership qualities. Originally, Macbeth’s loyalty towards Duncan is apparent and selfless, that “the service and the loyalty I owe in doing it pays itself” (Shakespeare 1.4.25-26). His initial ambition and motivation to stay loyal to Duncan is what he used in killing Duncan— that there is a “vaulting ambition” (1.7.27) that he must apply. His strong motivation to kill Duncan, portrayed in his soliloquy, “hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven or to hell”, Macbeth realizing he must go through with the murder. His desires towards killing Duncan and gaining the power to become king is displayed in Machiavelli’s words, that Oliverotto, who was “formidable” being able to kill the ruler “Giovanni and all the others” (Machiavelli 31), as well as Goleman’s who believes that those with “leadership potential” have a “deeply embedded desire to achieve” (Goleman “What 99), which was evident in Macbeth. Macbeth’s determination at the start of the play indicates a strong and successful leader. Macbeth’s motivation later on reveals his faults in allowing himself to be blindly
At every step of his process as king and as a leader contributed to his eventual downfall. Macbeth’s lack of self-awareness set up a baseline for his lack of empathy and inability to process situations, unable to cope properly with Duncan and Banquo’s deaths. Macbeth’s enemies rally against Macbeth’s tyranny, leaving Macbeth with virtually no other allies. Macbeth’s blind motivation and lack of clear decision-making result in the spiral of his rule, ending in his own death. The ability to overcome and accept one’s difficulties not only allows the success for political or executive leaders, but also gives a model for the most effective conduct in everyday life. The fallacies of Macbeth’s life give light to the possibilities for self-improvement, caring for others, analyzing situations, and self-motivation for not only any aspiring leader, but any person who wishes to become a leader of their own