Similarities Between Macbeth And Nixon

“When the President does it, that means that it is not illegal.” Richard M. Nixon states during an interview with David Frost during May 19, 1977. Both Macbeth And Richard Nixon live by this quote. Weird, considering they could not contrast more. Focusing on the similarities and differences between Shakespeare’s fictional Macbeth and nonfiction Nixon conveys a message of character flaws causing the abuse of power. One real, one fake, one a murderer, and the other a liar... Macbeth is a fictional general from Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, who conducts a series of semi-successful murders to become the King of Scotland around the eleventh century. Richard M. Nixon, the 37th President of the United States, is one of the main conspirators

in the Watergate Scandal in the nineteenth century. The similarities are undeniably there: Both figures of discussion gain high positions and are former men with a moral compass, both have an underlying character flaw causes them to do an indecent act, and both of their downfalls improve society. All tragic heroes start from a position of greatness then decay.
The concept of how a man/woman from a high stature in a society can go from greatness to dirt. Even if they definitely did not show any signs in their origins. Richard Nixon is a congressman Cloud declares, “As a new congressman [Nixon] was assigned to the then relatively unimportant House Committee on Un-American Activities” (S. Cloud, 3rd Paragraph, 5th sentence), Supply Officer at the rank of Lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy according to Cloud, “ [Nixon] served in the navy as a supply officer in the South Pacific” (2.4), vice president, Cloud also says, “Eisenhower kept [Nixon] on the ticket, and the two were swept into office by a margin of more than 6 million votes over the Democratic ticket headed by Gov. Adlai E. Stevenson of Illinois. As vice-president, Nixon...”(3.6-4.1) and, according to Cloud yet again as he declares, “This time, partly because the Democratic party was bitterly divided over the Vietnam War, Nixon won the [presidential] election” (7.4) Nixon is the 37th President of the United States. Nixon earns these positions through grit and determination. Nixon starts out as a man with a firm code of ethics and he knew right from wrong, especially from prior military service and knowing he upholds an obligation to all citizens of America. Nixon’s qualities such as charm evident in Nixon’s Checker's Speech reveal a great human in Nixon (4.6). A pity Nixon’s reputation ends in disgrace. Macbeth states his position as Thane of Cawdor after the witches tell him his future: “he bade me, from him, call me Thane of Cawdor (Shakespeare, Act 1, Scene 3, Line 106). Secondly, He is also Thane of Glamis he also describes“By Sinel’s death I know I am Thane of Glamis” to the witches after they are done with Macbeth’s fortune telling (1.3.72). Macbeth claims the position of the King of Scotland as Banquo, Macbeth closest friend who Macbeth later murders, expresses, “ [Macbeth] Thou hast it now; King…” after the murderer of King Duncan is never found (3.1.1). Macbeth also begins as a good man in high places just like Nixon; however, Nixon never kills anyone to gain a position. Macbeth brings his ultimate destruction on himself, but the fall of Macbeth is still a tragedy.
One’s flaw in nature can lead to a very erroneous act of retroactive regret.

The Richard Nixon character flaw is also blind ambition believing the rare fallacy of being above all of the government's checks and balances, leading to the infamous Watergate Scandal as Cloud states, “ During the [Nixon] campaign a group of burglars working for the Committee to Re-elect the President broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate office-apartment complex in Washington, D.C., apparently in search of political intelligence. Attempts by the White House to stop or frustrate the ensuing investigations ultimately failed when Nixon's own White House tape recordings revealed the president and his assistants had engaged in an obstruction of justice” which Richard Nixon attempts to cover up (9.2-9.3). Richard Nixon’s fatal shortcoming is a course of ambition with a side of reverse diplomatic immunity. He thinks since he is the president, he can do whatever he wants; obviously, this idea is not valid. Nixon’s complete obliviousness to the repercussions of this scandal conveys an underlying theme; Nixon’s drive for success is dangerous to plenty of people. Macbeth’s flaw is over-ambition leading to his hands, causing a series of murders to claim the throne of Scotland. Macbeth wants to be king so badly he murders the current one as Macbeth utters to his wife, “I Have done the deed. Didst thou not hear the noise” after he murders King Duncan ( 2.2.14).

Macbeth also plans the murder of his best friend, Banquo, as Macbeth lectures the murderers, “Let your remembrance apply to Banquo/present him eminence, both with eye and tongue” (3.2.31-32) the irony is that by “present him eminence” he means they, the murderers, are to murder Banquo. His final murder involves a woman and child (4.2.80-89) to secure the position of king of Scotland. Macbeth, unlike Nixon, shows a lot more dedication to obtain his goals even if Macbeth’s dedication results in his death.
In the end, despite their differences in time, background and existence, Macbeth and Nixon are two shining examples of a tragic hero.

Macbeth and Nixon have very glaring differences: Macbeth is fictional while Nixon is real, Macbeth is a king in a monarchy government while Nixon is the leader of democracy, etc. Nonetheless, Macbeth and Nixon resemble the qualities of a tyrannical leader and a tragic hero. Both former men of honor who commit acts which later leads to the improvement of the greater good. The signs are evident. Both subjects gain prestigious status, have a detrimental shortcoming causing them to commit horrors, and both men’s ends improve the quality of life of their subjects. Believing one’s self is above the law will lead to one’s downfall and destruction of his/her reputation; consequently, Macbeth and Nixon definitely witness this. Hypothetically, if Mr. Nixon did not receive any ramifications, the world would not only differ in history but also in direction. One word would describe the future of the Earth;

chaos.