How one man's greed led to the death of many
Our town
6
Power and responsibility play a key role in the story of Macbeth. From scene to scene, we see Macbeth changing from a caring, fair man into a crazed, power-thirsty beast that is willing to go to any extent in order to secure his reign. In this article, we will be analyzing certain events from the play, and taking out examples of Macbeth's need for power, and the responsibility he inherits along the way.
Act One
In Act one, Macbeth is illustrated as a brave leader in the Scottish Army, who became a major part in the putting down of a rebellion. However when the three witches appear and tell him he will be king, he appears flustered by their prophecies. It is expected that Macbeth was beginning to read into these prophecies when he heard them, since he would not have acted so strange if he had completely disregarded them. This is the first time we see Macbeth showing hints of corruptness, since he is obviously considering how to become king.
Act Two
In the second act, Macbeth kills King Duncan in order to gain power. This event shows Macbeth's corruptness clearly, even though he was very regretful after it was done. The fact that Macbeth was willing to kill a good man for his power illustrates the first instance in which Macbeth gains responsibility for his actions. His decision to kill Duncan is just the beginning in his spiral towards tyranny.
Act Three
In act three, Macbeth makes the decision to kill his friend Banquo, once again out of his desire to hold on to his power. Killing Banquo was a decision made for two reasons. These were to secure his throne, and in response to the prophecies that the witches had made in the beginning to the story. This is the second occurrence where Macbeth has gained responsibility and accountability for what he has done, and now they are starting to pile up.