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Joey Schmitzer

Sheehan Clark

Honors English 12: British Literature

13 December 2017

The Evils of the Pursuit of Power as shown in Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Power is a two-sided sword. It is used to do immense good, or immense evil. It is the

pursuit of power, the journey individuals go on, which determines how they use that power once

they obtain it. This drive and yearning for authority usually begins with an individual wanting to

make a change, gain wealth or fame, or in the case of Macbeth, have control and security. Once

this idea enters an individual’s mind it can be very hard to ignore, and the fantasy itself can

corrupt them, taking priority in their agendas and their lives. This obsession that forms inside of

someone becomes the driving factor that will stop at nothing to achieve their desired power and

goals, whether the methods be moral or immoral. That is how corruption finds a home inside of

the minds of the most powerful and influential people in the world, leaving everyone else in the

wake of their self-centered actions.

Not everyone is seeking to do evil, but how many influential public figures really got to

where they are without breaking some rules or bending the truth? In today’s society, public

reputation can make or break an individual overnight simply because of the massive influence of

social media. Social media is a brilliant way for power-seekers to brand themselves and portray

themselves in the best light. Without knowing an individual personally, they can be whoever
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they want to be on the internet because society will only see what that particular individual wants

them to. Every day there is breaking news lighting up any device connected to the internet or

cable revealing another scandal or cover up for people in places of authority. Within the days

following these reports a new report will come in informing the people of their upcoming

resignations or trials. These are the modern issues being dealt with in society today, but

Shakespeare focuses on the same principles in his tragedy, Macbeth.

Although it was a different world at the time, Shakespeare displays how the pursuit for

power could affect people and it is a prominent issue that drives the storyline of the play,

Macbeth. “Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness” (Shakespeare

I.v.) This quote is a line spoken by Lady Macbeth, Macbeth’s wife, about his character early in

the play implying he is very kind. In the beginning of the play, the protagonist, Macbeth is a

loyal and honest general to King Duncan. Macbeth’s success on the battlefield results in him

receiving many promotions and titles from the King. Unfortunately, as Macbeth gains fame, he

begins to develop a liking for control and authority, especially after being entitled as the Thane

of Cawdor. After that, Macbeth’s wife and the witches have enough influence to create a fantasy

in Macbeth’s head that he is to be the new King. Shakespeare uses the witches and Lady

Macbeth to represent the vices individuals encounter when being introduced to a path for power.

Macbeth takes it a step farther by wanting to secure the crown not just for him, but for his family

and generations to come. Not only does Macbeth murder an honest King that he loved, but also

kills others and betrays his most trusted friends to achieve his goals. He justifies himself saying,

"What's done is done” Shakespeare (III.iii). As the play draws near to an end, Macbeth is no
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longer at war with everyone else, he’s at war with himself and life as a whole. Macbeth states, “I

bear a charmed life” (Shakespeare V.viii.), despite his ironically cursed life. Endlessly seeking

guaranteed control and security, aka the pursuit for power, leaving Macbeth questioning the

point of life with nothing left on the world for him. Macbeth meets his fate by the sword of an

old rival.

Shakespeare’s play emphasizes the humanity that is in every person on this Earth

utilizing the pursuit for power as a means to do so. All people have desires and goals in life, and

Shakespeare alludes to his audience that power does not define a person, the justification that a

person gives for their actions is what defines them.

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Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Edited by Sylvan Barnet, Signet Classic, 1998.