Macbeth and Stalin - 1481 Words

Essay The great American President Abraham Lincoln said â€Å"Nearly all men can stand adversity but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power† (Lincoln). Abraham Lincoln explained that hardships are a part of man’s life and many great achievements are attained by overcoming the difficulties faced in our lifetime. However, the test of man’s character comes through the handling of power. A righteous and moral man wills not exploit its power as opposed to corrupt leader who will pursue his self-interests by misusing his power. Such assumptions can be made with the ruthless and mass murderer dictator, Joseph Stalin and the cruel tyrant from Shakespeare play Macbeth. Joseph Stalin is known as the most merciless and murderous dictator†¦show more content†¦His paranoid state ceases him to think otherwise and thus his impulsive state forces him to wreak a terrible revenge on Macduff wife and children. Consequently Joseph Stalin also becomes paran oid of his surroundings, ordering the arrests and carrying out executions of millions of innocent people. Joseph Stalin ordered the arrests of many doctors predominantly Jewish and labeled them as conspiratorial assassins of many notable Soviet leaders. This shows how his mind is in a corrupt psychological state. Corresponding to Macbeth, he has committed mass amount of murders to keep his throne safe. There is also irony between both dictators. Both dictators gain power through killing of previous president and king but now they have to be in constant alert and fear on how they could be killed for power. They have set themselves up for this as both ruthless dictators continued to be in a paranoid and corrupt state till their death. Thus both leaders gain power through the killings of previous leaders; they find themselves now to be in a position where they might be killed for power causing them to achieve a distrustful and immoral state. Lastly, Macbeth gains power but fails to stay in control; as opposed to Joseph Stalin who effectively manages to stay in authoritative of the state until his death. After receiving apportions from the three weird sisters, Macbeth is convinced he cannot be killed byShow MoreRelatedEssay about Notions of Power: Animal Farm and Macbeth1257 Words   |  6 Pagesabove and Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Orwell’s Animal Farm. In your essay ensure that you specifically refer to each of texts including quotes and analysis. â€Å"Political Power grows out of the Barrel of a Gun† The idea of power and especially political power has its many definitions, and is used, explored, and even exploited, featuring in all human experiences in the struggle for authority and dominance. The theme of power is widely explored in the two texts of Macbeth by Shakespeare, the famousRead MoreMacbeth, By William Shakespeare1220 Words   |  5 PagesMacbeth I have been given the task and privilege of directing the film Macbeth, (Macbeth) and the essay will examine many aspects of the play including the main characters, personalities, themes as well as the important incidents in the film and the historical background. I have chosen Lady Macbeth as the main character for discussion. The 2010 film, saw Macbeth as Stalin and the weird sisters or witches were portrayed as nurses and then cooks. It was filmed in an abbey which retained some of theRead MoreMacbeth and Animal Farm Essay901 Words   |  4 Pagesevaluating writers’ different ways of expressing meaning and achieving effects Focus on progression of power Compare the way George Orwell and William Shakespeare present and develop power and attitudes to power in Animal Farm and Macbeth. Writer’s sharing of attitudes other characters and writers AO1 = respond to texts critically and imaginatively; select and evaluate relevant textual detail to illustrate and support interpretations AO2 = explain how language, structure andRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth ( Macbeth )1033 Words   |  5 PagesChoose One principal character in the Shakespeare play you have studied (either Macbeth or Lady Macbeth). Compare your reading of the character in the play with the same character in your chosen adaptation (Rupert Goold’s film adaptation of Macbeth). Macbeth is a Greek tragedy written by William Shakespeare based in Scotland in the 13th century. It was written in the reign of King James I. Shakespeare wrote the play Macbeth to please the king as he knew that the king was interested in wizardry and witchcraftRead MoreThe Role Of Music As A Reflection Of The Human Condition1161 Words   |  5 Pagestotal politicizing of the art by totalitarianism means. Dictators, including Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union, were manipulating popular culture to take control of their people. Stalin supported the idea of a â€Å"Soviet modernism,† a school of art that would embody the power of the new proletarian state. He monitored every recording made in the country, writing judgments of â€Å"good,† â€Å"so-so,† and â€Å"bad† on their sleeves. Stalin believed music to be the engineer of the human souls, and hoped to use this asRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Tragedy Of Macbeth1304 Words   |  6 Pages Becoming a Madman In The Tragedy of Macbeth, William Shakespeare obsesses over the ideal of a good man becoming an evil tyrant. The play of Macbeth is based on Macbeth a man who had everything including a wife, home, power, and friends. Until he heard a prophecy that would change his life forever and disrupt his sanity and virtue. Logically speaking you think, how could one man lose everything including himself from one prophecy? We have to remember that the author is none other than ShakespeareRead MoreThe Soviet Era Of Ussr1251 Words   |  6 Pages for the most part, was not banned entirely, but converted into a propagandist tool used by the government to encourage optimistic feelings toward its own policies. However, musicians who created works that were objectionable to the party, or to Stalin personally, often had their works banned and were exiled to Siberia. Many musicians were even murdered because party leaders did not feel that their music was art for the people. Communist leaders tende d to censor the concepts that were found withinRead MoreA Comparison of Shakespeares Macbeth and Rupert Goolds Film Adaptation 954 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s masterpiece, Macbeth, is a tragedy brilliantly brought to the 21st Century by Rupert Goold. Although Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a play set in 16th Century Scotland, Rupert Goold modernizes the play by changing the setting to a Soviet-styled country and implementing modern elements into the characters and theme. Although Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Rupert Goold’s film adaptation share many ideologies and a general storyline, a difference exists in the setting, the characters, andRead MoreMacbeth Power And Corruption Essay786 Words   |  4 PagesIn the play ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare we see how easily power and ambition can corrupt as Macbeth learns of his ‘fate’ to be the next king and, in an effort to speed up the wait commits regicide and murders the king. Macbeth’s turn in the play works well with the Lord Acton quote â€Å"Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.† In the beginning of the play we see that Macbeth is the Thane of Glamis and so has power but is also humble, but when the witches tell him he willRead MoreAnalysis Of Dmitri Shostakovich And Sergei Prokofiev2012 Words   |  9 Pagesan equally impressive opera, named Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District. It premiered in 1934, and was adored by both the official and musical audiences. It was not until 1936 did Shostakovich begin to receive harsh critical review, and it began with an anonymous article in the Soviet’s most popular newspaper, Pravda. Shostakovich’s fall from musical grace came in the form of the anonymous article, â€Å"Muddle Instead of Music†. The article bashed Lady Macbeth, and accused it of formalism, calling it