Ambition And Corruption In Macbeth

Ambition and Corruption
John F. Kennedy once referred to the obtaining of power through immoral behavior in his inaugural speech: "…In the past, those who have sought power by riding on the back of the tiger have ended up inside.” He did so to explore the idea of power and greed resulting in corruption. In the play Macbeth, William Shakespeare makes many references to such consequences in correlation with this form of corruption because these consequences affect the plot and major characters in the play. These consequences are displayed in a few ways: first, Macbeth becomes corrupt in his quest for power due to misguided decisions; secondly, Lady Macbeth displays corruption through her ambitious and unethical behavior; finally, Scotland suffers because of the corruption of citizens of the country. Everything leading to these consequences is made clear through the immoral acts committed by Macbeth and his wife which are provoked by their ambition and pursuit of power.
Macbeth’s ambition is driven by a variety of things, one of which being the prophecies told to him. Upon visiting the witches, he is told a prophecy. In such prophecy the witches state that Macbeth will be king, Banquo’s sons will be kings, etc. The witches give these prophecies twice throughout the entire play. First in Act 1 when they state, “all hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!” and “all hail Macbeth that shalt be king hereafter!” The second time is in Act 4. "Beware Macduff, Beware the Thane of Fife!" and "The power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth" and then finally "Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until Great Birnham Wood to high Dunsinaine Hill shall come against him."
Lady Macbeth is a character in the play that comes across...

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...see it as not their home, but rather their "grave; where nothing, But who knows nothing, is once seen to smile; Where sighs and groans and shrieks that rend fill the air" (Shakespeare 4.3.185-187). The country is being compared to a cemetery shrouded in darkness; therefore, one can assume that it is not a pleasant place to live.
In conclusion, one can clearly see how the corruption of just one person can affect the society around them. In Macbeth's situation, the effect of such corruption on society is emphasized by his position in the society as the king. Scotland suffers the consequences of being led by Macbeth, whose corruption leads to immoral actions and whose lack of leadership qualities results in an inability to compensate for this corruption. Every character in the play faces the consequences provoked by Macbeth and his wife’s ambition and lust for power.