Corrupt Macbeth is Corrupt (Spoilers)

"Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." - Lord Acton
To what extent would Shakespeare agree with this statement? Use the play and your own experience as your support.

**SPOILERS ABOUT THE PLAY BELOW (don’t read if you don’t want to know plot details)**

John Dalberg-Acton, the brilliant man behind the aforementioned quote, was a Catholic politician and writer. The full remark, stated by Acton was, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.” This has deep-rooted connections to the play Macbeth, as, after Macbeth is named king, he proceeds to act questionably and corruptly.

It’s important to mention that Macbeth was not BORN corrupt - his increasing power caused increasing corruptness. Macbeth begins the play as the Thane of Glamis and quickly encounters the Weird Sisters who predict that he will eventually become Thane of Cawdor and replace Duncan as king. This prophecy, coupled with other events in the beginning of the play, plant the seeds of corruption in his head that lead him to kill both king Duncan and his best friend Banquo. In Act 1, it is revealed that the Thane of Cawdor, who fought with Macbeth in a recent battle against the Norwegians, was a traitor, and consequently was executed. This caused Macbeth to be promoted to both Thane of Cawdor and Thane of Glamis, part of the Weird Sisters’ prophecy. The Thane’s death  prompted Macbeth to think that the prophecy might become true if he (Macbeth) took action.

Macbeth’s new position of power combined with the prophecy lurking in the forefront of his mind directly caused his downward spiral into insanity. Influenced by Lady Macbeth and his new position of power, he commits regicide to take a step closer to becoming king. Macbeth is a seasoned warrior, yet Duncan’s death haunts him greatly, evidenced by the apparition of his bloody dagger. Duncan’s two sons, Malcolm and Donalbain flee, and Macbeth is crowned king. However, he is worried about his kingship because Banquo and Fleance are suspicious and because the Weird Sisters prophecy stated that Banquo or Fleance may be king instead of Macbeth. Uneasy, Macbeth hires three murders to kill both Banquo and Fleance, but only Banquo ends up dead.

Macbeth’s ultimate corruption is revealed when Macduff’s betrayal has become transparent to the whole kingdom. The king now decides that the only justice for this treason is death for his whole family! He sends murderers to Macduff’s palace, and they cut down Lady Macduff and her whole family, with the exception of Macduff, who is on his way to visit Macbeth. It is quickly revealed that Macbeth is responsible for the murders, and Macduff leaves to gather troops and start a war.

With reference to Macbeth, Shakespeare would agree with this quote to a great extent. Macbeth, evidenced by the correlation between his rise of power and his increasing corruption, is a prime example of a leader whose main focus became obtaining and retaining authority by all means necessary, including murder and deception. In reference to the play’s historical context, Shakespeare could be sending a message to James I about his fear of being dethroned - a result of the Gunpowder Plot. I think that the play was written in a way for James I to THINK that he is similar to Banquo and that his fears are justified, but in reality it was written as a warning to him about what may happen if he continues to place his power over his responsibilities as king. This is just one of the many occurrences of appearance vs. reality in the play, an overarching theme of the play by Shakespeare.