The pursuit for the fruits of power heavily relies on one’s ambition. Ambition is a valuable characteristic that can quench one’s thirst for power or achievement of a goal. However, it comes at a detrimental price when it begins to consume one’s entire thoughts and actions. The tragedy of Macbeth, written by the renown William Shakespeare, tells of Macbeth’s gradual downfall as he begins to attain and preserve status as the King of Scotland. Throughout the play, it is illustrated that his power- hungry ambitions begin to feast upon his entire life.
In other words, it causes him to profoundly focus on success, thus pushing himself and loved ones away from his life. This is also reflected during the reign and downfall of Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany. The actions of both figures portray that when ambition causes the quest for power to be prioritized above all other things in life, one’s demise is foreshadowed to come. Macbeth’s and Adolf Hitler’s ambitions for power both lead them to progressively execute immoral actions that in the end, cause their demise, although they didn’t start off in that manner.
In the exposition of Macbeth, he is characterized as a dauntless, loyal nobleman towards King Duncan. Yet, once he learns of the Weird Sister’s omens about him becoming king, his megalomaniac attitude begins to leisurely cause his decay of scruples, thus, ultimately leading him to his tragic fate. The first signs of his uncontrolled ambitions are portrayed in Act 1, Scene I when he states “I am Thane of Cawdor. If good, why… whose murder is yet but fantastical. ” This quotation demonstrates the scene where one of the witch’s predictions, Macbeth becoming Thane of Cawdor, comes true.
This exemplifies the commencement of his crumbling morals in his actions, as demonstrated when he feels consumed by the thought of killing Duncan, a fair and just king, in order to gain power. Later on, in Act II, Scene II, Macbeth decides to murder Duncan officially in his sleep, as stated when he says to Lady Macbeth, “I have done the deed. ” As he moves in towards the throne, he loses himself and others during the process. This is illustrated when he plans to execute Macduff’s family after hearing the witches’ apparition about the armored head, which warns Macbeth to beware
Macduff as a threat to his power. In other words, in order to uphold his position as ruler of Scotland, he will go to great lengths to eliminate Macduff’s entire family, even though they are innocent. This gruesome depiction of him is shown when he states “The castle of Macduff I surprise.. give to the edge o’ the’ sword. His wife, his babies, and all unfortunate souls… ” Moreover, at the near denouement of the play, Macbeth fights until the very end, willing to accept his fate, until he is slain by Macduff. Macbeth’s case is also reflected throughout the life of Adolf Hitler.
In his early stages of life, he originally wanted to pursue a career as an artist in Vienna Academy but was unfortunately rejected as a student in 1907. As a result, he hit rock bottom and was living at a homeless shelter until he began to take an interest in politics. Later on in 1921, he rose to power as becoming the chair of the Nazi Power. Throughout his reign, he targeted many peoples from different backgrounds and cultures whom he considered being a threat, such as the Jews, thus was an anti-Semitist. He viewed the Jews as an evil union that will one day destroy the world.
Consequently, when the Nazi Party came into full power in 1933, the Holocaust was in the midst of occurring. At first, Hitler established the Nuremberg Laws to cleave the rights of Jews, such as shutting down their business, socially during the night of Kristallnacht, and citizenship. Nevertheless, still in the fret about the huge population of Jews in Germany, he ordered for the building of concentration camps, such as Auschwitz, to made in order to execute the population of Jews in the country. Post World War II, the lives of six million Jews were taken brutally.
They were killed y certain chemicals that suffocated them in the camp’s showers, the usage of shotguns, abortion, inhumane experimentation, deadly disease, and more. Not one child, baby, woman, man, or elder would be spared if they didn’t successfully carry out their jobs. As shown, Hitler’s motives for his inhumane actions, especially toward the Jewish population, was as a result of his strong ambition to gain and maintain his power. Nevertheless, in the end, when the Allied Powers in World War II were coming into Germany, he ended his own life as a result of not wanting to comprehend the pain of losing.
Thus, one can see that Macbeth and Adolf Hitler both committed criminal, cold-blooded acts that were a result of power-hungry ambitions that took over every aspect in their life and eventually, lead them to their deaths. many similarities can be drawn about the effects of motivation for power between Macbeth and Adolf Hitler, there are key differences that set the both of them apart. One major contrast between these two figures is that they each accept their demise in their own way. Macbeth states in Act V Scene VIII “Why should I play the Roman fool and die on my own sword?.
Though Birnam Wood be come to Dunsinane… I will try the last… ” This quotation simply means that although Macbeth knows that his fate is death since the all three apparitions are in effect, he will not stop fighting until the end. This portrays him to be a Although determined fellow rather than a coward because instead of committing suicide, he fights till the end. Compared to Adolf Hitler when the tides of World War II were coming to an end, he committed suicide prior to the Allies invading Germany.
This shows his quitter attitude towards his fate because instead of eing a man and accepting his punishments for his actions, he ends his own life in fear that he will be killed. In addition, in contrast to Adolf Hitler, Macbeth’s morals still tugged on his ropes when he was committing immoral actions. This is especially shown in Act II Scene II when he says “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? ” In this quotation, the blood symbolizes his morals clinging to him, which as a result makes him feel guilt for the actions that he has committed throughout the play.
On the other hand, Hitler’s aggression towards the Jews lacked almost no sympathy. There is no evidence that Hitler truly felt sympathy for the six million Jews that he executed. This is mostly portrayed by him allowing the Jews to be brutally murdered and buried with a lack of respect or humanity. Overall, compared to Hitler, Macbeth is mostly seen as a dauntless human with morals although he executed immoral actions for the thirst of power. Ambition is a useful tool that can result in positive consequences, if in moderation. Nevertheless, once it begins to dominate one’s thoughts and actions, the consequences become toxic and lethal.
Both Macbeth and Adolf Hitler show hat once motivation for power begins to drive their every action and thought, it becomes calamitous. This is portrayed by the appalling decay of their morals that occur as high ambitions begin to pull them deeper into a hole that will be the end of them. However, these two individuals are different in many ways. Macbeth is shown have more morals and bravery compared to Adolf Hitler, especially during the times of their deaths. Although the covet to gain riches for power appears to glitter, at first, the ending result of fierce ambition is not always gold.
