Common Lit.

But if that flow’r with base infection meet,

The basest weed out braves his dignity:

For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds;

Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds.

William Shakespeare, Sonnet 94, Lines 11-14

In this sonnet we see that power is often disguised so that the common people can not tell who is really pulling the strings. In this section of the poem, we find that power can corrupt even the nicest person and that most people would rather deal with the enemy they know then the unknown enemy. The question is, does corruption of power come from within a person who holds a higher position or from those that surround them? We get a similar question about power in that of Macbeth and Edward II who also struggle with their power and the source of their corruption both inside them and from outside forces.

First Witch

    All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis!

Second Witch

    All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!

Third Witch

    All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!

Macbeth, William Shakespeare, Act1.Scene3 (48-50)

The three witch foretell Macbeth’s future to him and meddle in his life as he knows it. Their involvement will forever change Macbeth’s life and his outlook at it. Before meeting these witches his is a simple man who would do anything for his country and king. After getting this prediction we see that he does a complete about face in order to gain power which he know sees as rightfully his. Edward II also deals with king of power struggle as he deals with the fact that he must give up his crown and with that his power, which he believes is rightfully his because of God.

HECATE

    Have I not reason, beldams as you are,
    Saucy and overbold? How did you dare
    To trade and traffic with Macbeth
    In riddles and affairs of death;
    And I, the mistress of your charms,
    The close contriver of all harms,
    Was never call’d to bear my part,
    Or show the glory of our art?
    And, which is worse, all you have done
    Hath been but for a wayward son,
    Spiteful and wrathful, who, as others do,
    Loves for his own ends, not for you.
    But make amends now: get you gone,

Macbeth,William Shakespeare, act 3. 5 (2-14)

Hecate is angry that the three weird sisters did not include her on their scheme with Macbeth. She is also upset that they meddled with business that was not important. I also question weather she is actually mad because she didn’t get to show her true power or their insolence. Here we see a slightly different type of power struggle that seems to also occur in the supernatural world too.

Mortimer Junior 

  Madam, return unto the court again.           
  That sly inveigling Frenchman we’ll exile,    
  Or lose our lives; and yet, ere that day come,    
  The king shall lose his crown; for we have power,    
  And courage too, to be reveng’d at full.

Christopher Marlowe, Edward II, Scene 2 Lines 56-60

Mortimer tells Queen Isabella of their plans to get rid of Gaveston and talks of how they have the power to do so. This lets us know as reader that they already have power over the King and will use it against him. He wants to also let the Queen know they are on her side and want Edward back to his old self. It seems like a noble act on their part to help the King get back to his senses, but later we find out this may not be the whole truth.

Gaveston

   Do. These are not men for me;
   I must have wanton poets, pleasant wits,
   Musicians, that with touching of a string
   May draw the pliant king which way I please:
   Music and poetry is his delight;
   Therefore I’ll have Italian masks by night,
   Sweet speeches, comedies, and pleasing shows;
   And in the day, when he shall walk abroad,
   Like sylvan nymphs my pages shall be clad;

Christopher Marlowe, Edward II, Scene 1, Lines 49-57

This shows the early stages of Gaveston’s want for power and how he will seduce the King into giving him what he wants. Gaveston believes that if he uses the Kings lust for men to his advantage he will remain in the King’s good graces. It becomes kind of confusing if he really want to be the King’s lover and make him love him more or just wants power. Before he can even put this plan into action he is foiled by the nobles and their dislike for him.

Lancaster
  My lord, mine’s more obscure than Mortimer’s.   
  Pliny reports there is a flying fish   
  Which all the other fishes deadly hate,          
  And therefore, being pursued, it takes the air:   
  No sooner is it up, but there’s a fowl   
  That seizeth it; this fish, my lord, I bear:   
  The motto this: Undique mors est.

Christopher Marlowe, Edward II, Scene 6 Lines 22-28

Here Lancaster shows his disdain for King Edward and how his current decisions are hurting England. Without putting it in plain terms, Lancaster describes how Gaveston is bad news for Edward and how he needs to get rid of him. We get to see how Edward is not as in control of his subjects as he should be for them to even think of undermining his authority. This shows how Edward is at a constant power struggle between him and his subject, but doesn’t show true interest in getting control of them until it is too late.