How Does Macbeth And Witchcraft Influence The Concept Of Power

Power: The possession of control or command over others. Witchcraft: magical influence. Combine the two, and a dangerous concoction will arise. In William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the downfall of a valiant man is portrayed as supernatural forces implant the idea of power into his mind. Macbeth takes place in the 15th century, a time when witchcraft was at an all-time high. In the 1400s and leading up to the early 1600s when Shakespeare wrote this play, witches were seen as subjects of Satan who were sent to carry out his tasks. King James I (1566-1625) feared witches so much that he wrote a book called Demonology, expressing his hatred and fear of witches. People suspected of committing witchcraft were burned at the stake, drowned, or hanged. In Medieval Europe there was a general mistrust of witches. The treatment of witches at this time explains why Banquo tells Macbeth not to believe in their prophecies at the beginning of the play. The supernatural plays a huge role in Macbeth, motivating Macbeth to commit evil actions and to have too much faith in his own mortality.
At the beginning of the play Macbeth is overwhelmed by a lust for power when he is visited by three evil witches. They reveal a prophecy with Macbeth as king. As part of the witches prophecy starts to come true, Macbeth contemplates the idea of murdering the current king, Duncan. During a conversation with Banquo and Ross, Macbeth thinks to himself, “If good, why do I yield to that suggestion/ Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair/ And make my seated heart knock at my ribs…” (I.iii.147-149). Macbeth’s immediate thoughts of killing Duncan display the effect that the idea of power has on him. Although he rejects the idea at first, the anticipation of becoming ...

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...oken, Macbeth knows he is going to die. The prophecies have stood strong for him and now this one will bring about his death. After a short battle, the once ruthless Macbeth stands defeated, and his kingship is given up to Malcolm. In the end, the prophecies and apparitions had clouded Macbeth’s judgment and contributed to his much anticipated death.
In conclusion, Macbeth’s collapse of power was drastically affected by supernatural forces that proved to control him mentally and physically. The prophecies drive Macbeth’s power-hungry motives and cause his kingdom to go into turmoil. A soldier and ruthless fighter, Macbeth is very confident in his strength and safety. The prophecy and apparitions only add to Macbeth’s confidence and turn it into cockiness. In the end, Macbeth’s poor leadership affects everyone around him, and eventually it comes back to bite him.