Corruption in Macbeth Power has the ability to destroy a person's nature, making them capable of doing many things they would not normally do unless power had an influence. Once Macbeth realizes that he has power, he becomes a corrupt person. This power he obtains allows him to commit many sins to become king of Scotland. In Macbeth, a play by William Shakespeare, Macbeth corrupts through power, guilt, and ambition. Macbeth wishes to achieve a particular goal, to become the most powerful person in Scotland. He fights on the Scottish side and kills Macdonwald. King Duncan tells him to "go and pronounce his present death, and with his ancient title salute Macbeth" (I.ii.63-65). King Duncan learns of Macbeth's powerful and noble qualities and crowns him the new Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth kills King Duncan, leaving an empty seat for a new king. He reassures himself that he will become very powerful. Macbeth soon learns of heirs to the throne who might interfere with his power and immediately orders the deaths of both Banquo and Fleance. He tells the hired assassins to "leave no hindrance or mistake in the work...Fleance, his son...is much less material" (III.ii.153-155). With this, he allows these undermining and evil ways to get the better of him, corrupting his being. Macbeth is so consumed by the thought of becoming powerful that he becomes even more corrupted. Before and after Duncan's murder, Macbeth is consumed by guilt. When he tells his wife about the future, she manipulates him into wanting to kill King Duncan. However, Macbeth resists the horrible thoughts and tries to push them out of his mind because "Duncan has ever honored him" (I.vii.35). King Duncan is a very good friend of Macbeth and feels guilty for his death. Macbeth becomes increasingly delirious and wants to free himself from the murders. When he attends the meeting, he tells the guests that "[his] dull brain [is] full of forgotten things" (I.iii.166-167). He's slowly letting himself be eaten alive by such guilt that he even admits it to his attendants at the party. Macbeth proceeds to kill Duncan. His wife tells him to look innocent and to "bring [the daggers] and smear the sleepy grooms with blood" (II.ii.63-64). His innocence is no longer available and being crowned King of Scotland is almost a pawn in his game. While on the outside he seems very strong, on the inside very silent, Macbeth's existence is turned upside down, all due to the corruption of lack of power, which leads to guilt. Macbeth's ambition allows him to become more involved in the thought of becoming powerful. He begins to think about being king for the first time after the three witches tell him of his fate. When they try to leave, he immediately tells them to "stay" and "tell him more" (I.iii.73). Wanting to know his future plans, he corrupts himself ambitiously. Macbeth wants to become king so much that he will do anything to achieve his goal. Macbeth "has no urge to sting" the outcome of his intent, "but only the ambition to whirl" (III.ii.50-51). Macbeth's continuing ambition is present in his desire to have a succession of kings after him. After Macbeth finds out about Banquo and Fleance's escape, he wastes no time in moving on to the next victim. His ambition is to "surprise" Macduff with the "slash of the sword," but his wife and children, their "unfortunate souls," die instead (IV.i.174-177). Coincidentally, Macduff went to England, rendering his family defenseless at the time of their murder.