100% satisfaction guarantee Immediately available after payment Both online and in PDF No strings attached
logo-home
Previously searched by you
Previously searched by you
logo
Macbeth vs Mussolini : Comparing their dictatorships CA$9.40   Add to cart
Quickly navigate to
Preview
  2.  
  3. High School
  4.  
  5. English Language Arts
  6.  
  7. English Language Arts

Essay

Macbeth vs Mussolini : Comparing their dictatorships
 614 views  1 purchase

In this 5 page essay, I compared the rise and fall of Macbeth to the famous tyrant Benito Mussolini. I have compared and contrasted their similarities and differences and have shown how "Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.".

Preview 2 out of 6  pages

Document information

  • January 15, 2019
  • 6
  • 2017/2018
  • Essay
  • Unknown
  • 91%

Subjects

Connected book

book image

Book Title:

Author(s):

  • Edition:
  • ISBN:
  • Edition:

More summaries for

All for this textbook (8)

Written for

All documents for this subject (1)

Seller

avatar-seller
tritonknights15

Content preview

1




Benito Mussolini: a more modern reflection of Macbeth

In the play Macbeth, we see how our protagonist goes through a great tragedy throughout

the story, due to his everlasting desire for power. From once being the Thane of Glamis, He rises

to become the king of Scotland and falls rapidly like many others that were once in positions

similar to power. In history, there are lots of mistakes that allow consequences to repeat

themselves, which can lead to more modern dictators to repeat and endure the same actions and

consequences as our leaders in our past. There have been countless dictators in the past that

abuse their power and have similarities to the actions Macbeth took, but one that undoubtedly

resembled Macbeth was Benito Mussolini, the 20th century’s first fascist dictator.

At the beginning of the play, Shakespeare thoughtfully creates the deception that

Macbeth was trustworthy and honourable, but once forced to make decisions under pressure, his

true character is revealed. As the play progresses, we see that Macbeth becomes more impatient

and ambitious. He was initially the Thane of Glamis, a title which was give to him by King

Duncan, but in Act 1 Scene 3, the three weird sisters come to Macbeth and Banquo with a

prophecy. The witches tell Macbeth and Banquo that Macbeth will become the Thane of Cawdor

and one day eventually become the new king of Scotland. The second witch announces, “All

hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!” (1.3.51) and the third witch also saying, “All hail,

Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!”. (1.3.52)

After hearing the witches’ prophecies, Macbeth questions what they claim to be true, and

eventually starts to believe them. Impatience and greed gets the best of him and he decides that

he wants to kill the king to inherit the position that king Duncan holds. His wife, Lady Macbeth

encourages and influences him to do this act by saying “It is too o’th’milk for human kindness to

, 2


catch the nearest wave.” (1.5.18-19). Lady Macbeth is suggesting that Macbeth is not ambitious

enough or maybe even too cowardly to murder King Duncan. Lady Macbeth also states “Look

like th’innocent /flower,/But be the serpent under’t.” (1.5.56-58) motivating him more so to kill

him.

Benito Mussolini was an Italian prime minister who held his position from 1922 – 1943.

After the end of World War 1, Italy was weakened. Their economy was struggling severely due

to many casualties during the war and the rising unemployment rates. Also, their government led

by King Victor Emmanuel II was fragile and divided since they were not able to inspire their

people or establish proper leadership. In 1919, Mussolini began a fascist party, which was

supported by unemployed war veterans from the first world war. Supporters of Mussolini would

then become “Blackshirts”, armed squads that would support Mussolini’s movement. (Historic

Figures: Benito Mussolini – BBC) Since Italy was in this vulnerable state, Mussolini suggested

that Italy would need a leader that would dictate their country, someone that would face their

“economic and political crisis”. (“Benito Mussolini.” – Foot/Hibbert). Mussolini wanted

someone that would completely alter and transform their country stating, “a man who is ruthless

and energetic enough to make a clean sweep.”. A few months later, Mussolini publicly hinted

that he would be qualified to be the leader of Italy, the one that would transform Italy’s

plummeting economic system. Mussolini’s rise to power has similarities that can be interpreted

from Macbeth’s story. For one, Mussolini was trying to figure out how he could become the

leader of Italy. He realized that he would have to find a way to dethrone the current king, King

Victor Emmanuel II, just like Macbeth had to find a way to dethrone King Duncan. Since

Mussolini gained attention and support from the people of Italy, King Victor Emmanuel II

allowed Mussolini to create a government. With this power, Mussolini then continued to

The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:

Guaranteed quality through customer reviews

Guaranteed quality through customer reviews

Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.

Quick and easy check-out

Quick and easy check-out

You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.

Focus on what matters

Focus on what matters

Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!

Frequently asked questions

What do I get when I buy this document?

You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.

Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?

Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.

Who am I buying these notes from?

Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller tritonknights15. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.

Will I be stuck with a subscription?

No, you only buy these notes for CA$9.40. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.

Can Stuvia be trusted?

4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)

78252 documents were sold in the last 30 days

Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now

Start selling
CA$9.40  1x  sold
  • (0)
  Add to cart