Abraham Lincoln stated, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Macbeth, a play written by William Shakespeare, delivers a tale about the misuse of power. Throughout the play, characters demonstrate multiple ways in which power manipulates a person and vice versa. The play demonstrates this through brainwashing, fear, pride, and paranoia; thus, proving power corrupts. Even in today’s society, people are being corrupted by power and use it selfishly.
North Korea, a communist nation ruled by a dictatorship, utilizes its power to make the citizens worship their supreme leader. Similar to Macbeth, North Korea brainwashes its people. One witness spoke of the actions done in North Korea, “ …show more content…
For example, “two square holes are left in the ground, the footprints of two giants, where the devastating attacks on September 11, 2001 took place” (Tweedie). Even after 15 years America is still shaken with fear and left paranoid to wait and watch what will happen. Not a year goes by without a major incident. Take Erin Sheehan, the shooter responsible for 32 lives, who made America crawl back under a blanket of paranoia. Sheehan is responsible for “the killing spree at Virginia Tech which was the deadliest incident in modern U.S. history, outstripping previous shootings” (Braun). Unlike these real events, the paranoia experienced by Macbeth is from his own doing. First, Macbeth killed Duncan and was worried if anyone heard him. Lady Macbeth resured Macbeth by saying “I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry” (II, ii, 19). Second, when Macbeth had murderers kill Banquo. When feasting, Macbeth became paranoid since he saw Banquo’s ghost had appeared. Macbeth becoming delusional yells “Thou hast no speculation in those eyes/ Which thou dost glare with” (III, iv, 114-115). Even though paranoia can affect others in different way, it is still affecting people. After 9/11, Americans were scared, they were scared to go to an airport, fly an airplane, and even to this day Americans are still afraid of what will happen. Like 9/11 Macbeth was not wrong to be afraid since something could always happen. All the ways power can be used; brainwashing, fear, pride, and paranoia, proves that power is
North Korea, a communist nation ruled by a dictatorship, utilizes its power to make the citizens worship their supreme leader. Similar to Macbeth, North Korea brainwashes its people. One witness spoke of the actions done in North Korea, “ …show more content…
For example, “two square holes are left in the ground, the footprints of two giants, where the devastating attacks on September 11, 2001 took place” (Tweedie). Even after 15 years America is still shaken with fear and left paranoid to wait and watch what will happen. Not a year goes by without a major incident. Take Erin Sheehan, the shooter responsible for 32 lives, who made America crawl back under a blanket of paranoia. Sheehan is responsible for “the killing spree at Virginia Tech which was the deadliest incident in modern U.S. history, outstripping previous shootings” (Braun). Unlike these real events, the paranoia experienced by Macbeth is from his own doing. First, Macbeth killed Duncan and was worried if anyone heard him. Lady Macbeth resured Macbeth by saying “I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry” (II, ii, 19). Second, when Macbeth had murderers kill Banquo. When feasting, Macbeth became paranoid since he saw Banquo’s ghost had appeared. Macbeth becoming delusional yells “Thou hast no speculation in those eyes/ Which thou dost glare with” (III, iv, 114-115). Even though paranoia can affect others in different way, it is still affecting people. After 9/11, Americans were scared, they were scared to go to an airport, fly an airplane, and even to this day Americans are still afraid of what will happen. Like 9/11 Macbeth was not wrong to be afraid since something could always happen. All the ways power can be used; brainwashing, fear, pride, and paranoia, proves that power is