Effect of power upon relationships, "Macbeth," "Prometheus Bound," and "Ubu Roi"

Prometheus Bound Macbeth Ubu Roi <Tab/>"Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." This quote by Lord Acton showcases what many literary works reflect, the capabilities of a dangerous thirst for power to cripple the strongest of bonds, whether familial or not. Dating back to the Bible with the story of Cain and Abel, the craving for superiority caused the breaking of the very first brotherly bond with the death of …

…and respect, such as the one described between Macbeth and King Duncan, is not strong enough to stand against the temptations of power. One would think that a relationship between two people of shared blood is one that could not be broken by something so fleeting as power. Contrary to this it is shown in the case of Prometheus Bound, that a family bond is just one more thing to crumble under the weight power.