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In Macbeth, Shakespeare illustrates mans desire to achieve power. Shown through his characters, Shakespeare writes of a man who gains knowledge of his future and with his wife embarks on atrocities to fulfill them. Wanting more and more power both the man and his wife are driven mad by there own desire and then eventually to death. Macbeth, a Scottish general and loyal friend of Duncan (king of Scotland), achieves knowledge of his future from three witches. First addressing him as Thane of Glamis, his known title, the witches then continue to hail him Thane of Cawdor and king of Scotland. Macbeth takes this information and at first dismisses it, later learning that his title as Thane of Cawdor comes true. Macbeth sends word to his wife informing her of the witches’ prophecies “…these weird sisters saluted me, and referred me to the coming on of time, with ‘Hail, king that shalt be!’ This have I thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee.” (1.4, line 8). In this quote we begin to see Macbeth embrace his future. Lady Macbeth showing no uncertainty of her and her husband’s future; she devises a plan to kill Duncan. “..Thou wouldst be great; Art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it...” (1.5, line17). Constantly challenging his manhood, Lady Macbeth gets Macbeth to kill the king. Macbeth having second thoughts of doing this, Lady Macbeth’s dauntless spirit sways him to do it. “I have given suck, and know how tender `tis to love the babe that milks me- I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums, and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this.” (1.7, line 54).
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