Eight-five percent of the world lives under a corrupt government. Corruption is inevitable and in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, he shows how even an honorable, loyal man can become a power-hungry tyrant. The corruption begins with the manipulation of others, who make Macbeth, a trustworthy general, doubt his loyalty and morals. By influencing him into thinking he should be king, they cause him to make irreparable actions. Macbeth’s example shows how manipulation can corrupt one’s mindset. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is approached by the witches proclaiming him as future king: “All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis! / All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! / All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter! (1.3.17). …show more content…
When the witches first go to Macbeth, they only tell him half-truths and make him feel as if he is already a king. If Macbeth had not heard these prophecies from them, he would have never pursued being king. Since he is claimed Thane of Cawdor after these prophecies were revealed to him by the witches, he believes the rest of their prophecies must be true. Their manipulative words cause Macbeth’s confidence and ambition to increase too much. Later on, when Macbeth comes to ask for more answers from the witches, their apparitions tells Macbeth more half-lies: “Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn / The power of man, for none of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth” (4.1.125). They tell him to continue being confident because “none of woman born” can kill him. Another apparition instills more confidence in him, when they tell him that he cannot be …show more content…
(3.1.87)
He explains that Banquo has “bowed [them] to the grave” and has been the reason their families are living in poverty and asks if they are that forgiving to let him go. He may not realize that he is manipulating at the time, but since he is so worried about self-preservation he uses the same tactics as his wife to get what he wants. After hearing that he is fundamentally invincible, Macbeth is ready to fight Macduff, he hears a scream and claims, “ I have supped full with horrors / Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts / Cannot once start me” (5.5.177).
Since he has been “supped full with horrors”, horrible events are so familiar to him and he forgot what fear was like. This moment of self-reflection demonstrates how Macbeth is fully aware that he has changed for the worse. He knows he has been used as a pawn in other’s schemes to disrupt the natural balance and assume power for themselves. Manipulation is an attempt to change others or to change fate. By using the tactic of manipulation, Lady Macbeth, the witches, and Macbeth himself change the morals of everyone involved in Macbeth’s attempt to become king. Shakespeare shows how easily manipulation and corruption can affect even the strongest and most faithful