The Fate of a Nation George Washington and MacBeth were two historic figures who were influential in determining the fate of their nation. Both were ambitious men living during perilous times, yet each charted a different course for himself and his country when faced with the lure of power. Washington fulfilled his ambitions by devoting his life to creating a nation, while MacBeth was ignorant his responsibilities to his country, in turn destroying it and …showed first 75 words of 487 total…

…showed last 75 words of 487 total…rrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely'. MacBeth epitomizes this quote. He took power and was overwhelmed by it. He did not think about the responsibilities that came with his power, and ruined his life and country. However, Washington was not overwhelmed by his power. His restraint of it paved the way for the first truly democratic nation. His willingness to sacrifice this power brought him the honorable reputation he had sought for his entire life.