Comparing Power In Macbeth And Hamlet

Power can be defined as the ability to influence others (Power, n.d). Obtaining power is something sought out by many, however only few can succeed without becoming mad. The temptation of power is what causes two of the main characters, Macbeth and Claudius, to act in ways by which would violate their normal moral values. The ideology of obtaining power in Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Hamlet influences both Macbeth and Claudius’ perceptions. In Macbeth, Macbeth himself can be seen as a prime example of power causing corruption. It all starts with the witches’ prophecies that he will become king. This thought is what pushes Macbeth to do unthinkable things, that before this prophecy, he would never do in his right mind. At first, Macbeth is completely willing to do whatever means necessary to become king, including killing his dear friend King Duncan. However, once the time comes, Macbeth seems to have a hard time actually fulfilling the deed. It takes some powerful and forceful words from his wife to rid him of his indecisiveness. His wife’s push towards killing Duncan not only starts a string of murders for innocent people, but transitions Macbeth into a killer. It almost seems as if his wife wants the power more than Macbeth does. However, after he kills Duncan, he decides that he really wants the power and he would do anything to get it. Soon, Macbeth sees everybody, including his close friends as a threat to his throne. At this point Macbeth and Claudius enter a similar path. Much like Macbeth, Claudius kills people close to him, including his …show more content…
These corrupt thoughts and feeling became detrimental not only for themselves, but for many of their innocent friends and family. Through the killing of other’s, determination, and help from other corrupted friends, they are both able to achieve their goals for a short amount of time, until death takes its