Excerpt 1: Read the excerpt from act 3, scene 1 of The Tragedy of Macbeth. King Duncan has just been murdered, and Macbeth is now king. Banquo remembers the witches’ prophecy and wonders whether Macbeth played a part in Duncan’s murder. Banquo. Thou hast it now: King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, As the weird women promis’d; and, I fear, Thou play’dst most foully for ’t; yet it was said It should not stand in thy posterity, But that myself should be the root and father Of many kings. If there come truth from them,— As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine,— Why, by the verities on thee made good, May they not be my oracles as well, And set me up in hope? But, hush! no more. Excerpt 2: Read the excerpt from act 3, scene 2 of The Tragedy of Macbeth. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are preparing for a feast. Macbeth is king, but he cannot forget the witches’ prophecy that Banquo’s sons, not his own, will succeed him. Macbeth. O! full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife; Thou know’st that Banquo and his Fleance lives. Lady Macbeth. But in them nature’s copy’s not eterne. Macbeth. There’s comfort yet; they are assailable; Then be thou jocund. Ere the bat hath flown His cloister’d flight, ere, to black Hecate’s summons The shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums Hath rung night’s yawning peal, there shall be done A deed of dreadful note. How does the universal theme "the quest for power” relate to the universal theme "the relationship between violence and human nature” in these excerpts? Macbeth will resort to terrible violence to hold on to his power. Banquo believes that violence is an unavoidable part of being in power. Banquo’s kind nature means he will be an easy victim of violent acts. Macbeth’s new power makes him feel protected from violence.