A man with loyalty could be described as someone who will
always stay faithful and humble even though temptations could be found
everywhere. But even if the most loyal man is given power, then corruption can slowly
start building inside if its misused. William
Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” shows that power can corrupt even the most loyal and
humble people. In the book the protagonist Macbeth later becomes the books main
antagonist after hearing about the prophecy form 3 witches saying that he will
soon become the new thane of Cowdor then will become the new king. Going
through many obstacles in his way, Macbeth soon becomes a different person than
he was in the beginning.
As power
hungry and, at some point, crazy Macbeth is, he was once a brave and loyal fighter.
“Duncan: so thy words become thee, as thy wound; they smack of honor both” (Act
one, scene 2, line 44-45). Prior to his murder, king Duncan has seen Macbeth as
a man with honor after what he did in the battle in the beginning of the book.
King Duncan was also so proud that he tells the injured sergeant to be proud of
him. “He bade me, from him, call thee thane of Cowdor” (Act one, scene 3, line
105). After hearing that Macbeth has saved the people of Scotland, king Duncan
then pronounced him has the thane of Cowdor because of his loyalty towards the
king. But because of this, we find a new side of Macbeth, a side that shows how
power can corrupt even the most humble man.
Power can
easily Change a man as great as Macbeth for the worst due to corruption that
had started building. “Banquo, thy soul’s flight, if it find heaven, must find
it out tonight.”(Act 3, scene 1, line 141-142). After claiming the throne of
King Duncan, Macbeth uses his power to make sure it remains with him. By doing
so he kills Banquo in an attempt to make sure that his children will soon
become kings. “She should have died here after; there would have been a time
for such word.” (Act 5, scene 5, line 17-18). After hearing about his wife’s
death, Macbeths felt very indifferent about it compared to the battle that was
about to commence. At the beginning of the book, Macbeth would have done
anything for Lady Macbeth, but when she died he treated it as if there were
worst problems. Because power could easily change people, it could also be
someone’s great weakness.
For some
people power could be strength, but for people like Macbeth who gets corrupted
by power, it could easily be their greatest weakness. “Some say he’s mad;
others, that lesser him, do call it valiant fury: but, for certain, he cannot
buckle his tempered cause within the belt of rule” (Act five, scene 2, lines
13-16). After his people and his court found out about all the killings that
Macbeth did, they betrayed him and joined Malcolm’s side. Because he misused
his power, he became weaker in power. “re-enters Macduff, with Macbeths head”
(Act 5, scene 7, line 83). Because everyone went against him, he didn’t really
stand a chance on winning the war against Malcolm. This shows how power, if
misused, can be ones weakness.
In the book
Macbeth would have done anything to get power and have power remain with him.
Having become a different person, readers will realize how power can lead
someone to corruption. In “Macbeth” William Shakespeare emphasizes how even the
most loyal and humble people can get corrupted by power if it is misused.
