Comparing Macbeth And Joseph Stalin

Among the similarities shared by the modern tyrant and the legendary Scottish king are a tendency for pretense, a tyrannical mercilessness, an abrasive and harassment pattern of behavior, a lust for domination and destruction, a drive for assurance and inspection, and a willingness to impose terror, ruination, and death on their own subjects in order to achieve their goals and govern their societies as they saw fit. Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, exemplifies a leader’s desire for political supremacy and dominance through the power of deception and the use of hostility which parallels with Joseph Stalin’s administration during World War II.

A resemblance between Stalin and Macbeth emerges in their memoir shortly resulting from a catalytic

death that commences their ambitions to become pungent individuals. The demise of the Communist revolutionary, Lenin, initiated Stalin to yearn for totalitarian authority.

After outsmarting his political competitors, the troika, and winning the domineering conflict for jurisdiction of the Communist Party, “Stalin became General Secretary in 1922 and used that platform to seize control upon Lenin's death” (Robertson). Along with the nation’s condolences by the decease of Vladimir Lenin, Stalin was effortlessly proficient in accomplishing political mobility by seizing his predecessor’s administrative prestige with the intention of gaining dictatorial power. Correspondingly within the Scottish play, an influential occurrence in death profoundly supervened and manipulated Macbeth to become a power hungry leader. Three witches emerge amongst Macbeth and Banquo to foretell Macbeth’s prophecy of becoming the thane of Cawdor and ultimately the king; this prophecy initiates Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to acquire corrupt desires for dominance and conduct murderous schemes. Outside of Macbeth’s

castle, Macduff expresses with Ross, a Scottish nobleman, that the other lords crowned Macbeth as king: “Then ‘tis most like the sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth…he is already named and gone to Scone to be invested” (II. IV. 30-31). Because the immoral and murderous strategy of Macbeth to slaughter King Duncan was triumphant, Macbeth was capable of departing to Scone, a traditional site where Scotland’s kings are crown, and become christened as king to the sovereign throne. The similarities between Stalin and Macbeth arise in their ethical chronicle, such as the catalytic death that inaugurates their determinations in becoming authoritative leaders.
Both Stalin and Macbeth wrought malicious acts of terror in their nation state to advance their supremacy and facilitate upon political mobility. Joseph Stalin implemented an augmented organization of concentration camps called gulags during the course of his crusade to turn the Soviet Union into a modern industrial power and to collectivize agriculture. As a tyrannical leader, Stalin sent an aggregate amount of people to labor camps or killed them: “In 1935, Stalin started the Purge which was a process that kills anyone who could put him out of power” (“Stalin's Dictatorship”). Because of Stalin’s paranoia and ghastly proceedings of terror seen during the purge, proves that his callous ideology was to instigate havoc upon the subordinates of his country. Similarly, Macbeth performed unethical deeds to transfer up in the political ladder, and he also felt paranoia towards those who may seek to overthrow him. Keith Gregor says that, “the mere threat of genocidal terror and suffering can allocate a dictator to command a whole nation.” In Macbeth, Macduff commends Malcolm to join him in a conquest of Scotland, where the people suffer under Macbeth’s punitive rule: “This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues was once thought honest; you have loved him well… great tranny, lay thou thy basis sure” (IV. III. 12-13). The insight between Macduff’s conversations expresses the horror and hysteria that was occurring during Macbeth’s reign. Both Stalin and Macbeth wrought malevolent acts in their nation to advance their authority and power.
Both Stalin and Macbeth were infamous in ascertaining a false pretense towards their predecessor of the realm.

Stalin established a dissembling character towards Lenin, who believed that Stalin would become a great leader until the years following his own death. Stalin was a principal aide to Lenin and assisted the regime in winning a civil war in opposition to those who combatted the Bolsheviks: “Stalin began plotting to gain power before Lenin’s death… Lenin expressed misgivings about Stalin’s use of power.” (Joseph Stalin). Stalin created a deceiving persona towards Lenin that misleads him in order for Staling achieve his goal of taking Lenin’s position in dominance and influence. Likewise, Macbeth established a misleading character towards his predecessor, Duncan. After the battle, King Duncan splendors Macbeth for his victory in combat in which Macbeth and Lady Macbeth invite the royal family for a celebration banquet: “Our honored hostess, the love that follows us sometime is our trouble, which still we thank as love... and thank us for your trouble” (I. VI. 11-13). In this scene, King Duncan with his gratitude has no idea that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are arranging to scheme his murder which creates a false pretense. Macbeth’s false pretense towards Duncan in his career tremendously corresponds with Stalin’s deceitfulness against his leader, Lenin. Both Stalin and Macbeth were notorious in ascertaining a false pretense towards their processors of the

realm.
Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, exemplifies a leader’s desire for political supremacy and dominance through the power of deception and the use of hostility which parallels with Joseph Stalin’s administration during World War II. Among the similarities shared by the modern tyrant and the legendary Scottish king are a tendency for pretense, a tyrannical mercilessness, an abrasive and harassment pattern of behavior, a lust for domination and destruction, a drive for assurance and inspection, and a willingness to impose terror, ruination, and death on their own subjects in order to achieve their goals and govern their societies as they saw fit.