The Power Of Power In Macbeth

Throughout the play, Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the struggle of gaining power is seen very often among the main characters. The main character, Macbeth, struggles to gain power over others, in addition to Malcolm, for they have internal and external struggles they continue to face throughout the story in hopes of becoming king. Macbeth longs to stand as the King of Cawdor, and gain power over the city in which he lives. He listens to the prophecy, presented to him by three witches, and the prophecy says there is a way to gain power over the king, and that is if the King were dead. This sparks an internal struggle in Macbeth, for he wants the power of being king so greatly, but he does not want to cause the King’s death in order

All throughout the play, murder had been the only way to rise to the top and rule over the city. However, in addition to Macbeth struggling to gain power, Malcolm also struggled to gain power. Malcolm, not only wanting to be king as well, but also just wanted to be as powerful as Macbeth if his plans of becoming king failed him. Malcom too talked to the witches, but his prophecy was not yet as clear as macbeth’s. Malcolm’s prophecy said he would be greater than Macbeth, but also lesser. He would be happier than Macbeth, yet still not as happy. This riddle confused Malcolm. As a reader, we assumed that Malcolm would be greater than Macbeth, and happier than Macbeth because he would not have the guilt of killing so many people. Malcolm would be sadder, and lesser than Macbeth because he would never hold the power that macbeth held through recognition, even though he was not the king. However, malcolm does not know that Macbeth was the man behind the murders, and therefore his struggle to gain power came to him through this prophecy. He struggled to understand what his prophecy meant, and therefore could not find a way to rise to gain power over others. Malcolm struggles to gain power, and he therefore leaves, in fear of the murders and in hoped of finding people to follow under his rule. However, at the end of the novel, malcolm returns to Cawdor, where his struggle to gain power comes to an end. Macduff, by the end of the story, murders Macbeth, which his fate had predicted. With Macbeth murdered, Malcolm was awarded the position of King of Cawdor, and therefore he ended his struggle, and he gain power over others, or the people of his