Oedipus the King and MacbethWho would have thought that being king would be so difficult? Oedipus and Macbeth are both kings who seem to have a lot of trouble staying king. The similarities don't stop there. Macbeth and Oedipus are similar in many ways. The interesting thing is that they are also very different but still suffer the same fate. These similarities and differences teach us a valuable lesson about power. Oedipus and Macbeth have one main similarity: they are kings who fall through their own fault. They both become kings by reacting to what supernatural forces tell them. If supernatural forces had never influenced the two, neither would have attempted to become king. The role of supernatural forces is important for both heroes. The oracle orders Oedipus to take revenge on the murderer of the former king Laius, to stop the plague; The three strange sisters tell Macbeth that he will be king. The way the two heroes interpret the messages of supernatural forces is their undoing. Both interpret the messages as absolute facts. Macbeth becomes too trusting because of his sisters' words and gets himself killed. Oedipus tries to find Laios' killer only to discover that he himself is the killer. Both are very prosperous from the start and would have lived long and comfortable lives if they had been alone enough. But these two teach us a lesson because they both get dethroned at the end of the plays. However, there are some big differences between the two and how they fall. Oedipus is the better person of the two. He becomes king by saving the city of Thebes from the Sphinx, a very noble deed. Macbeth helps save Scotland but is just one soldier in a huge army fighting the attackers. Oedipus shows pride by thinking that only he can save the city from the plague, but he wants to save the city, and has the citizens in mind first and foremost. Oedipus addresses the citizens: Poor children! You can be sure that I know everything you wanted coming here. I know you are deathly ill; and yet, sick as you are, no one is as sick as me. (1019) Macbeth, on the other hand, kills Duncan in cold blood to gain the kingship..