If you have read Shakespeare's works, you will realize that many characters have similar traits or situations. While some can be compared to each other, they are also very different in their own ways. The play Macbeth is about a man whose attempts to seize power ruin his life. Tempest is about a man who uses magic to reconcile with his brother over past disagreements. The main characters Macbeth from Macbeth and Prospero from Tempest are similar in that they both want power, but different in how they gain authority and initial sources of control. To start, Macbeth from the play Macbeth and Prospero from Tempest are similar because they both want power. In Macbeth's case, he and his friend Banquo hear a prophecy from three witches: “Hail, Macbeth! Hail to you, lord of Glamis! Hail to you, Macbeth, hail to you, lord of Cawdor! Greetings to all, Macbeth, from now on you will be king!" (Act 1, scene 3, lines 149-15) After receiving this news, Macbeth actually becomes lord of Cawdor, which confirms that the witches were telling the truth. For this reason he becomes greedy for power and wants to become king immediately. In Prospero's case, he was the rightful Duke of Milan but had been set adrift on a boat with his three-year-old daughter Miranda, by his usurping brother, Antonio. (“The Tempest” Encyclopedia Britannica) Prospero says that he had been the Duke of Milan until his brother, Antonio, betrayed him and stole the dukedom from him, with the consent of the King, while Prospero was busy learning magic in his library, which it was not his real job. (Shmoop Editorial Staff) Since the dukedom was taken from him, Prospero wanted to be duke again and reconcile with his brother. Also, Macbeth and Prospero a...... middle of paper ......ton, David . "Prosperous." Encyclopedia Britannica. Np: np, nd No. page Encyclopedia Britannica. Network. January 12, 2014. Crouch, Rebecca. "Greed in Macbeth." Prices. Prezi Inc., and Web. January 12, 2014. .Jones, Quin. "The power of greed." The telephone booth. Wordpress and Web. 12 January 2014. Editorial team of Shmoop, ed. "The Storm." Shmoop. Shmoop University, Inc., and Web. January 12, 2014. “The Storm.” Encyclopedia Britannica. No. page Encyclopedia Britannica Online academic edition. Network. January 12. 2014. .