JeremyWilliams-Macbeth

The protagonist in Shakespeare's playwright "Macbeth", he is a Scottish aristocrat and military man. [|Macbeth's] opportunity to grab power begins in a bloody civil war where Shakespeare introduces him through another soldier on the battlefield. The soldier, who is wounded, exhaults and praises the general [|Macbeth] as well as Banquo (lieutenant) for their valient and noble deeds he witnessed during the battle. Near the same part of the novel the previous Thane of Cawdor is ostersized for high treason during the same battle. It is because of this vacant high position that Macbeth ascends the rankings to gain the title of the Thane of Cawdor. Previously to be awarding this position, Macbeth stumbles upon three witches who describe his fate not known to him (the gaining of his title) and hint at him possibly attaining the highest ranking, King. However unlikely these course of events maybe, Macbeth soon begins to debate on murdering the current King, Duncan, in the hopes of attaining the most sought after rank, king. At first Macbeth instinctively suppresses these ideas dismissing them as unmoral and unlogical yet; lady Macbeth (his wife) plays the devils advocate in the hopes of perhaps being queen herself luring him in with sayings such as "Bear welcome in your eye, your hand, your tongue. look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it."(1.6(75-78). Although not his original decision, Macbeth carries out the unlawful murder, and afterwards leaves a trail of blood nobody would have predicted. "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting amition, which o'erleaps itself, and falls on the other." (1.7 25-28) Shakespeare emphasizes the struggle between Macbeth's own paranoia and reality as the newly crowned king begins to falter. "Is this a dagger which I see before me, The Handle toward my hand?" (2.1, 44-45) Immediatly after murdering Duncan, Macbeth developes early signs of a psyciatric disorder hearing voices and teetering on the brink of insanity. As time relinquishes his insanity, a new Macbeth hell-bent on power assumes the protagonist and soon asserts his authority to anybody who opposes him. Interestingly enough, the same witches who manipulated Macbeth in the beginning, trick him into a false-sense of security ultimately leading to his demise. Macbeth also through his insecurities has his friend banquo murdered. Macbeth tells the murderers he has hired to kill Banquo and that he cannot kill him because they have mutual friends when he says "Every minute of his being thrusts against my near'st of life. And though i could with barefaced power sweep him from my sight and bid my will avouch it, yet i must not, for certain friends that are both his and mine."(3.1(133-137)). His greatest downfall is his narcasistic attitude towards his own safety leaving him open to Macduff who kills him.
 * Macbeth**

When sifting through histories notorious dictators, [|Hitler] is among the most successful and oppressive. Born on April 20, 1889 at Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungary to his father Alois Hitler and his mother Klara Polzl. Hitler was the fourth child of six and has said that as a boy, was beaten by his father who also beat his mother. Hitler once stated, [|"I then resolved never again to cry when my father whipped me. A few days later I had the opportunity of putting my will to the test. My mother, frightened, took refuge in front of the door. As for me, I counted silently the blows of the stick which lashed my rear end".] Through the novel that he wrote, __Mein__ Kampf a better understanding of his childhood can be interpretted. At age 16, Hitler dropped out of school without recieving a diploma after struggling with school throughout most of his life. After High School he joined the military establishing himself as a decorated veteran of WWI ultimately becoming a part of the [|Nazi political party] in 1920 and soon assuming as its leader in 1921. He gained his support through nationalism, antisemitism, anti-communism, and propaganda. Through a democratic election he became the chancellor of war-torn Germany in 1933. Germany, which was suffering severe economic turmoil following the war, he promised hope and prosperity for the people of Germany. After assuming the role of chancellor, he quickly converted the government to an established totalitarian through fascist dictatorship. Hitler quickly assumed foreign policy which promoted Lebensraum ("living space") for Germany, ultimately directing the government to this goal. Within the span of three years, Germany and its allied Axis powers were in complete control of Europe as well as large parts of East and Southeast Asia, Africa, as well as the Pacific Ocean. It appeared as though there was no stopping the determined Austrian-Born german from totally relinquishing any opposition to his reign of power. However, the Allies gained an upper hand in 1942 ultimately invading Germany from all sides in 1945. In the end, Hitler married his long-time mistress Eva Braun ultimately committing suicide in his bunker in Germany. Hitler is best known for his numerous atrocities killing an unimaginable amount of civilians as well as commiting genocide of a near estimated six million Jews. This crime, known as the Holocaust, is a clear and concrete example of the oppressive nature of Hitler towards those who opposed his viewpoints or stood in his way. Hitler gained most of his public support through convincing Germans that he alone would be responsible for their prosperity and fix problems such as economic depression, communism, the Versailles treaty, as well as others he held responsible such as jews, mentally retarded individuals, and other "undesirable" minorities.
 * Hitler**

John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton said the famous phrase, [|"Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.]" which is exhibited and portrayed as a life lesson throughout history and literature. Nowhere is this theme more prevelant than in Shakespeare's famous playwrite "Macbeth" through the main protagonist "Macbeth". Macbeth, who was originally the Thane of Cawdor is the main protagonist in the playwrite and lets greed and corruption fill his mind, causing him to relinquish anybody who opposed his reign. There are numerous comparisons that can be drawn between this famous character and many individuals throughout history. Indubtiably, the closest comparison between Macbeth and a historic figure, lies in the famous German dictator Hitler. Starting from an early age, both Hitler and Macbeth are drawn to the military and gain their ruthless personality through an influence of others in their lives. Hitler accredits his morose character traits to his father who beat both him and his mother as a child, whereas Macbeth's ruthless actions stem from Lady Macbeth who questions his manhood when he refuses to kill Duncan. Although the people which lead to their ruthless attitude are related in different manners, they both can claim to have "sowed the seeds" for what was later to come. Perhaps the biggest comparison between Macbeth and Hitler stems from this very topic, their accomplishments later in life. After thoroughly establishing their attitude towards human life, they both similarly desired one thing, power. Power is the driving motivation of Hitlers call to dictatorship in post WWI Germany, as well as Macbeth's framing and ultimately killing of Duncan's guards. Similarly these "starting blocks" were founded with the intent on gaining power through any means necessary reguardless of collateral damage. It is this absolute lust for power which drives them to extreme measures later in their lives. Macbeth does differentiate from HItler when pretaining to whom he decides should die. Hitlers methods of enforcing his reign are more indescriminate targeting individuals he had no connection with whatsoever. Macbeth on the other hand, uses precise tactics to only target those who are directly connected with him. Although these two methods may seem different, the motives are entirely the same, control those who oppose them by any means necessary. In conclusion the connections between Macbeth and Hitler lies more in the motive of their "evil" rather than their actions. Although there actions can be construed as "similar" the largest similarity lies in their tactics of enstilling fear to silence opposition.
 * Comparison**

[|Works Cited.doc]