The desire for power is one of the main ideas connecting the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, and Robert Penn Warren's novel All the King's Men. The main characters of both works, Macbeth and Willie Stark, desire for power results in their destruction, which is not only a physical death, but also a total degradation of their reputations and images, respectively. They receive a reward they do not truly deserve, and as a result of their prize, their desires for power are sparked. Outside forces in both works are also responsible for the two men's increased desires for influence, but cannot be solely blamed for the men's actions. In the end, both Macbeth and Willie end up dead as a result of their hunger.

Although Macbeth had defeated MacDonald in battle prior to the beginning of the play, this alone was not an act worthy of being crowned...