Macbeth Ambition and Power

Macbeth becomes corrupt through power that he gains. The play shows that even someone who starts out like Macbeth and does not crave power will do terrible things to gain authority and power.

The play begins with the characters King Duncan and Malcolm talking about a "good and hardy soldier". This man they are talking about is the stories main character, Macbeth. Macbeth is a good soldier who is devoted to his king. Then, Macbeth and his friend come across three witches who prophecy Macbeth's future, promising him as one day becoming King. These prophesies grab Macbeth's mind, and the change in his character begins. Whenever the witches try to leave, Macbeth immediately remarks for them to "stay" and to "tell him more”. The witches prophesy is the first example of Macbeth being affected by power.  
This supernatural knowledge begins to change his mind and Macbeth begins to wonder what he must do for the prophecy's to come true.
Macbeth does not begin to plot his first murder on the information gained by the witches on his own. Though the witches' prophecies do spark Macbeth's interest, it is not until his wife, Lady Macbeth hears of the prophecy that the murder plan begins to take shape. Lady Macbeth discusses killing Duncan to her him who tries to resist the thoughts of killing Duncan because "he hath honoured me of late" Lady Macbeth, however, succeeds and Macbeth kills Duncan.

Macbeth does not become totally corrupted at first after killing Duncan.   Actually, Macbeth stays very conscious and weary of the crime he has committed so much that he refuses to go back into Duncan's room and finish the job. It isn’t until after he has killed Banquo that the power that being king gives really captures his mind [continues]

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