Hunger for Power in Macbeth Essay Example

One of the main themes in Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, is the hunger for power. This is shown as people close to Macbeth, like how his mother and himself both lose their lives due to Macbeth’s desire for power. Despite the consequences and risks of obtaining more power, Macbeth is willing to risk it all to claim the throne of his country.

One of the ways Macbeth’s desire for power grew was due to the prophecy of a group of witches. Under rain and thunder, the witches chant in favor of Macbeth and later foresee his becoming the Thane of Cawdor. Upon hearing this Macbeth exclaims: “stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more!”(Act 1, Scene 3)(Line 18,19) This shows that Macbeth has gained confidence in his ability to obtain power and claim the title of Thane of Cawdor and that he wants to hear more of his powerful future. This is furthered by Macbeth repeating the witches saying “But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn, brandished by the man that’s women born.”(Act 5, Scene 7) (Lines 17-18). By exclaiming this, Macbeth believes he is immortal because he is under the impression that he cannot die to a man born to a woman. All of this feeds into his confidence which grows his hunger for power. 

Another way Macbeth’s hunger for power is made apparent in the play is the effect of his wife on his ambitions. Lady Macbeth takes a very aggressive approach to Macbeth obtaining the crown of Scotland. This is made clear by her summoning spirits. “Come you spirits… come to my woman’s breasts, and take my milk to gal.”(Act 1, Scene 5) (Line 47-48). By Lady Macbeth summoning spirits to try and help her and Macbeth’s claim to the throne of Scotland, this shows not only that Macbeth is hungry for power, but his wife as well. Another way Lady Macbeth has effects on Macbeth’s ambition for power is her secret plan to kill Duncan, the king of Scotland. “That which hath made me drunk hath made me bold. What hath quenched them hath given me fire.”(Act 2 Scene 2)(Line 3,4) While getting Duncan’s guards too drunk to be effective, they take Duncan back to a room and kill him. This effectively creates a power vacuum which Macbeth can fill. Thus without Lady Macbeth, Macbeth’s desire for power would be less amplified.

Furthermore, Macbeth shows his ambition for power by using assassins to kill Banquo and Banquo’s son Fleance. By hiring assassins to kill those close to him, Macbeth shows a desire for power that outweighs his love for his close friends and their families. “Thou shalt get kings, though thou get none”. (Act 1, Scene 3 Line 70-71). This shows that he sees Banquo and his son as a threat to his place on the throne and that he is willing to kill his best friend in order to protect that place on the throne. 

Overall Macbeth let his ambition get the best over him. The weird sisters and his wife Lady Macbeth contributed to his ambition, making him unstable and making bad decisions, hurting the people around him. If Macbeth didn’t let this hunger for power control him, he would have never let the murder of his friend Banquot and King Duncan happen. This shows that one man’s desire for power can lead to disastrous consequences.