John Steinbeck, an American author and one of the major literary figures in the 20th century, contends that “power does not corrupt”; instead, it is fear that corrupts, “perhaps the fear of a loss of power.” William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth, presents the theme of evil through conflicting ambitions, misuse of power and its consequences. The moral decisions and choices of the characters depicts the battle between good and evil. Macbeth, the tragic hero and the main character, starts out as a war hero, but changes into a villain who is unable to control his selfish ambitions. The three weird sisters, or witches, and Lady Macbeth, Macbeth’s wife, do influence his thoughts but not his decisions, which Macbeth takes by himself only. Macbeth
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In order to bring back peace and prosperity in Scotland, Malcolm, King Duncan’s son and the rightful heir to the throne, and the English army plan to invade Dunsinane, Macbeth’s castle, and overthrow Macbeth. On the way to Dunsinane, Malcolm announces that most men are abandoning Macbeth and that “‘none serve with him but constrained things,/ Whose hearts are absent too’” (V.iv.17-8). Macbeth unveils his evil ambitions once again by using the throne to gain more power instead of executing the job of a king, which is to serve its people. Macbeth’s misuse of the throne for his own selfish desires shows that he is the true villain. After Macbeth became king, many revolts have been occurring because the Scottish people are not willing to live under his dictatorship. One of these Scottish rebels, Angus, proclaims that “‘those he commands move only in command,/ Nothing in love. Now does he feel his title/ Hang loose upon him, like a giant’s robe/ Upon a dwarfish thief’”(V.ii.22-5). The tyranny and corruption in Scotland is proof of Macbeth’s evil characteristics, and as a result the people serve him only because of terror and fear. Angus compares Macbeth to a dwarf who steals the throne from a giant, King Duncan, by killing him in his sleep. He is conveying that Macbeth is a nefarious king who is unfit and not deserving of the throne because he uses unjust processes to attain his title. Macbeth’s evil ambitions unbalances the Scottish and the universal peace by attempting to control fate. Therefore, Macbeth is the true villain because he is a dictator who is eventually overthrown in order to bring back balance, peace and prosperity to
In order to bring back peace and prosperity in Scotland, Malcolm, King Duncan’s son and the rightful heir to the throne, and the English army plan to invade Dunsinane, Macbeth’s castle, and overthrow Macbeth. On the way to Dunsinane, Malcolm announces that most men are abandoning Macbeth and that “‘none serve with him but constrained things,/ Whose hearts are absent too’” (V.iv.17-8). Macbeth unveils his evil ambitions once again by using the throne to gain more power instead of executing the job of a king, which is to serve its people. Macbeth’s misuse of the throne for his own selfish desires shows that he is the true villain. After Macbeth became king, many revolts have been occurring because the Scottish people are not willing to live under his dictatorship. One of these Scottish rebels, Angus, proclaims that “‘those he commands move only in command,/ Nothing in love. Now does he feel his title/ Hang loose upon him, like a giant’s robe/ Upon a dwarfish thief’”(V.ii.22-5). The tyranny and corruption in Scotland is proof of Macbeth’s evil characteristics, and as a result the people serve him only because of terror and fear. Angus compares Macbeth to a dwarf who steals the throne from a giant, King Duncan, by killing him in his sleep. He is conveying that Macbeth is a nefarious king who is unfit and not deserving of the throne because he uses unjust processes to attain his title. Macbeth’s evil ambitions unbalances the Scottish and the universal peace by attempting to control fate. Therefore, Macbeth is the true villain because he is a dictator who is eventually overthrown in order to bring back balance, peace and prosperity to