Comparing Washington and Macbeth: 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 himself. Throughout his whole life, Washington yearned for power. As a young man, he wanted this power a