On November 1, 2016, Aaron Schock was indicted by a grand jury for 24 criminal counts (Skiba and Lighty). Throughout Macbeth, Macbeth slowly deteriorates into a tyrannical king. Macbeth is also useful to teach different literary techniques. Macbeth is still relevant because it shows the corrupting effects of power, and it should be taught in school because it teaches various literary lessons.
The corrupting effect that power has on people has been seen throughout the ages in both literature and life. In literature, figures like Macbeth deteriorate into tyrants, and in life, people like Aaron Schock abuse their power for their own personal gain. Starting at the beginning of Macbeth and ending with the death of Macbeth, the effect that power
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has on Macbeth can be seen throughout almost the entirety of the play. The first hint that we see that shows that the power is beginning to corrupt Macbeth is when he decides that he must take action.
Macbeth decides that he might need to take action when he says, “The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap” (I.iv.55-6). When he says “or else o’erleap,” he is acknowledging the possibility that instead of falling down the stairs of fate, he might have to climb down them himself. Literature is often a reflection of the real world, and this is especially true with the theme of the corrupting effect of power in Macbeth. Throughout history, many people have been corrupted by the influence of power. This still happens today, and Illinois has had many corrupt leaders and government officials. One of the most recent and notable examples of this was Aaron Schock. Aaron Schock was recently indicted by a grand jury on 24 criminal charges, many of which were related to corrupt or unlawful uses of power. Most of his criminal activity revolves around the fraudulent reimbursement of various personal expenses. One article detailing charges that Schock was being charged with detailed one of the biggest criminal reimbursements. The article accused Aaron Schock of falsely reporting how many miles …show more content…
he drove for official government business, “[He] fraudulently obtain[ed] nearly $140,000 in mileage reimbursement” (Skiba and Lighty). This shows how Schock abused his power for his own personal gain. Although their crimes were not necessarily equivalent, both Macbeth and Schock are examples of leaders who were corrupted by power and used it in a way that hurt those they were supposed to protect. Besides teaching many important themes such as the corrupting effects of power, Macbeth also helps to teach and develop many valuable literary skills.
One important skill that reading Macbeth helps develop is critical thinking or in this case, the ability to constantly think and to think deeply about a text. There are multiple points throughout Macbeth where thinking deeper about the current events and more minute details can help the reader predict the future events of the play. One example of this is during Macbeth’s final encounter with the witches. During this scene, Macbeth receives prophecies from three apparitions. Although the first two might be very difficult to interpret without knowing about the ending of Macbeth, with enough thought, it is reasonable to be able to predict some events based on the third apparition which was a crowned child holding a tree whose prediction was relating to a forest moving (IV.i.95-104). Based on the witches previous discussion between themselves, it can be assumed that Macbeth will die because the witches wanted to give him a false sense of
security. The corrupting effects of power is a common theme of both life and literature. One popular example of a literary work where a character is Shakespeare’s Macbeth in which the title character is slowly eroded away by the witches’ prophecy of power. Many real-life examples of this can be seen in politics such as the somewhat recent indictment of Illinois governor Aaron Schock. While Macbeth teaches many important themes, it also helps develop important literary skills. Macbeth remain relevant and most likely always will and it is a useful teaching device for schools.
Power can transform even the most loyal of men. In Shakespeare’s gloomy and morbid Macbeth, nothing is as it seems. Even the most loyal characters are duplicitous in their nature, exemplified by Macbeth. The greatest Scottish warrior becomes power hungry in his quest to re-kindle his relationship with his wife, Lady Macbeth, and is thrown over the edge when he is not appointed the Prince of Cumberland, an honor he feels he deserves. This same hunger for power ultimately destroys Macbeth, leading him to betray all those he loves, including king Duncan, his friend Banquo, and his wife.
In fear of losing this power to his friend Banquo or his son Fleance, whom of which the witches said would be king after Macbeth and would yield a long line of kings, Macbeth had them murdered in the woods while they were out horseback riding. This proves that he truly believes in what the witches have to say about him and his future, which leads him to back to seek out more of the witches half truths to see what else would come of his future. The next set of prophecies that the witches had to offer were shown in a set of three apparitions. The first said “Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff. Beware the thane of Fife,” the second apperition then spoke “none of woman born can harm Macbeth,” the third aperition then said “Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him”(Shakespeare,168-170). Some say it was the witches fault for Macbeth’s actions next, but in reality it was Macbeth’s and Macbeth’s alone. Due to these three prophecies Macbeth’s level of arrogance went up along with his hunger for power as well, his level of common sense was decreasing faster and faster. Macbeth’s lack of common sense caused him to make rash decisions without thinking them through. Such as when he says “From this moment the very firstlings of my
Unfortunately, it corrupts if it is not restrained. In Macbeth, Shakespeare effectively uses the characters of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth to underscore their struggles for power. Their hunger for power is the determining factor for their destructions. Lady Macbeth longs for power, and hopes to get it by manipulating her husband to kill his own cousin. While Macbeth kills Duncan and becomes king, she fails to realize her husband’s obsession with power exceeds her. Her role in the play fades; in the end, she suffers from sleepwalking and insanity. As for Macbeth, he transforms from a honourable and respectable man to a monster as a result of his thirst for power. Not only does he betray Duncan’s trust, but he also hires murderers to kill Banquo as well as and innocent people like Macduff’s wife and son. Like Lady Macbeth, Macbeth’s ambition results in his demise when he is killed by Macduff when they finally meet in a battle. Indeed, power is destructive. The downfall of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth is indicative that power is like cancer. Sooner or later, it destroys human judgment and turns humans into
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a tragedy in which the main characters are obsessed by the desire for power. Macbeth’s aspiration for power blinds him to the ethical implications of his dreadful acts. The more that Shakespeare’s Macbeth represses his murderous feelings, the more he is haunted by them. By analyzing his hallucinations it is possible to trace his deteriorating mental state and the trajectory of his ultimate fall. Throughout the play Macbeth is never satisfied with himself. He feels the need to keep committing crime in order to keep what he wants most: his kingship. The harder Macbeth tries to change his fate the more he tends to run into his fate. His ambition and struggle for power was Macbeth’s tragic flaw in the play. Macbeth’s rise to the throne was brought about by the same external forces that ensure his downfall.
Power. It is defined as the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events. Throughout time, certain individuals have acquired power in their society as a way to govern and keep order among their community. Power is not a new concept; it was used in the past by many emperors, kings, and queens, and is still being used by presidents, prime ministers, and dictators. Although, it has been used to further progress societies into what the world is like today, not all power has been used for the best of mankind. But what goes awry to make power turn corrupt? In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, it is illustrated how power can turn corrupt, when authoritative figures, who possess power, abuse it for their personal gain, rather than for the common good of the society.
An idea such as power establishes itself in most societies throughout the world. Power sets the basis for order and civilization, but it also causes chaos and collides with other human instincts such as greed and ambition. Power presents itself in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth in a confusing manner. Macbeth yearns to gain power and has the means to gain it, but the method of his gaining of power have been questioned by critics since its inscription in 1623. Macbeth, while tyrannical in gaining his power in the murdering of Duncan, sets the premise of the story and in this murder makes a name for himself on his leadership qualities. A man’s gain of power should not determine who they are as a ruler or even
Macbeth was a perfect example of how correct society is when it is said, "Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it". It means not everyone does the right thing to get to where they are, people use and abuse one another for what they want. Although it may be deceiving, no one cares as long as they get what they want. Power is literally what rules the world, corruption is what happens to the ones who gain too much power. In other words, there is no getting around the statement that power leads to corruption.
Shakespeare’s writing of Macbeth captivated his audience and kept them on the edge of their seats. Macbeth is a classic tale of greed and corruption. The more power a person has the more corrupted they become. They had to have what they did and more, it was never enough. They would do whatever it took to get what they wanted even if it meant killing the King of Scotland, just so they could have it all. Corruption controls and destroys lives and will turn you into a person that others don’t want to be around. It changed the lives of the people of Scotland and corruption still changes lives today. When a person is in power too long and the decisions they make directly conflict with others they don’t feel responsible for their actions. The facts remain, whether you prefer the truth or the captivating fiction, both stories of Macbeth will be remembered for years to
Macbeth and President Obama both abuse their power by killing and getting away with it, lying to their followers, and bribing. Macbeth was a great General in battle and a loyal servant to the king until he began to make bad decisions, fall to temptation, and even kill. The first thing that Macbeth did wrong was make bad decisions. His wife, Lady Macbeth, told him that he needed to kill Duncan. His response was just as she hoped and he agreed. “I am settled, and bend up each corporal agent to this terrible feat.” (1.7.L79-L80). This shows that he is going to commit this deed of killing Duncan because he believes that it is right. The second mistake Macbeth makes in the path to evil is not resisting temptation. “Thou marshal’s me the way that I was going, and such an instrument I was going to use.” (2.1.L42). This is where the dagger is presented to Macbeth in a ghost form. He fell for this trick and then knew he had to go through with the plan and kill Duncan. The last factor when you know he turns is when he finally kills Duncan. “I go, and it is done; the bell invites me.” (2.1.L62). This is showing that he was listening, and when the bell rang, he would go to kill Duncan. These all show that Macbeth turned evil after he made poor choices, fell victim to temptation, and killed people.
It is in human nature that the more power one desires the more corrupt actions one must do to attain it. In Shakespeare’s tragedy of Macbeth, a Scottish noble's craving for power leads him to do terrible deeds that leads to his demise. Shakespeare shows that power corrupts by using Macbeth who corrupts under the thought of have power over others. Macbeth becomes corrupt under the thought of becoming king and gaining almost complete control over the people that he rules. Macbeth wants the power badly enough to do horrible deeds such as commit regicide. Lady Macbeth becomes very ambitious and allows herself to become seduced to the idea of becoming Queen. Her ruthlessness urges Macbeth to commit regicide by questioning his love for her and his own manhood.
Perhaps the most fundamental theme of Shakespeare’s Macbeth is the inherent corruptibility of even a seemingly good man when ambition turns to greed, and Macbeth himself exemplifies this concept throughout the play. While at the outset he is seen to be loyal to his king, generally considered trustworthy, and displaying numerous other laudable qualities, Macbeth ultimately succumbs to the influence of those around him and becomes unequivocally evil, setting aside all his previously held morals and coming to be driven only by his lust for power. This transition is brought about by a wide variety of factors and plays an integral role in the development of the plot. In his tragedy Macbeth, William Shakespeare employs
In the play, Macbeth by William Shakespeare has a strong theme of power. Macbeth is a king who is given three predictions from three witches, one of which is that he will become king. The one problem is he doesn’t know what he has to do in order to become king. His wife then decides that in order for him to become king, he must kill the current king. This one murder then leads to others in order to cover the original murder up. Once Macbeth becomes king, he doesn’t want anything to change, he wants to stay king until he dies. He then begins to kill again, but instead of killing to cover something, he is killing anyone who stands in his way of staying king. Macbeth’s fate is affected by the personality trait of bravery, his ability to be manipulated, and his determination.
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, first published in 1606, is an endearing tale outlining the dangers of unchecked ambition and moral betrayal. In the subsequent centuries after first being performed, Macbeth's critics have been divided upon whether Macbeth himself was irrevocably evil, or if he was guided by the manipulation and actions of the women in the play to his ultimate demise. Although Lady Macbeth and the witches were influential with their provocations in the opening acts, it is ultimately Macbeth’s inherent immorality and his vaulting ambition, that resulted in the tragic downfall. It was Macbeth’s desire for power that abolished his loyalty and trustworthiness and led him down a path of murder. It is evident through his actions and words throughout the play as to how he led himself through a path of betrayal leading to his inescapable demise.
To become powerful, is to become corrupt, and The Tragedy of Macbeth is a prime example. In William Shakespeare's tragic tale, a young nobleman soon becomes corrupt when he is given the opportunity to become king. His need for power and safety drives him to corruption, ultimately killing off anyone who stands in his path: innocent or not. Throughout the play, many characters portray the impact power has on a relationship: Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, Banquo and Macbeth, Macduff and Macbeth and many more. While all these characters were affected by power in the play, Banquo and Macbeth's relationship best demonstrates the effect of power.
This specific action consequently resulted in Macbeth’s level of morality to continually decline as he is acutely aware of his own tyranny. Therefore Macbeth attempts to forget the horrific deed he has committed and be the figure that orders and disorders. Our perception of Macbeth being a wise and loyal soldier is now eroded, as we start to view Macbeth constantly questioning his own actions, and is also impelled to perpetrate further atrocities with the intention of covering up his previous wrong-doings.