The exploration of the study of power, ambition and corruption manifested in Shakespeare's Macbeth and Marlowe's Doctor Faustus

This paper explores the role of ambition, power and corruption that were reflected in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus during the Elizabethan period (1558-1603). During that period, society was characterized by the desire for power, unrestrained ambition, and corruption. The desire to have a lot of power was high among people, whether it was obtained through legal or illegal means. The characters Macbeth and Doctor Faustus reveal that power which is the main factor behind corruption. Through the characters Macbeth and Doctor Faustus, it is revealed that power is mainly responsible for doing corruption. The data sources for this qualitative study are collected from secondary sources like text books, journals, newspapers, and websites. This study demonstrates that ambition and power can corrupt individuals which lead to ultimate downfall. The textual references are given as evidence to support the argument of this study. The purpose of this article is to analyze the fact that if anyone commits a crime, they must be punished today or tomorrow. Finally it is found through the characters of Doctor Faustus and Macbeth that power and ambition bring corruption and corruption brings eternal downfall for human beings.