“Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it” George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905. The Tragedy of Macbeth, tells a story of a common occurrence in politics, a rise and fall of a once powerful leader. The Tragedy of Macbeth is a tragedy in which the main protagonist’s flaws leads to their own collapse, which is seen time and time again modernly. Written by William Shakespeare, it tells more than just a tale, he tries to depict the political struggle throughout the Elizabethan and Jacobean era.
Shakespeare’s illustrates a kingsman named Macbeth will succumbing to absolute power and the lengths he will take to retain it, including the strong theme of betrayal. This situation, as told by George Santayana, can be related to many leaders other than just MacBeth, such as one more recently in time. An island around the 1930’s named Imperial Japan had a leader, Hideki Tojo whose demise attributed to the similar actions of Macbeth. Hideki Tojo and Macbeth were both admired in their own individual culture, but have done horrendous deeds to keep their power.
Yet from different time periods and completely unique heritage, both men were able to reach total control of their realm. Reaching the height of their power came their downfall leading both to their own respected death. These two individuals faced death through the people they were trying to protect, their own people executed them through the fear of their own wrath. Their end can be seen as a betrayal but betrayal is what these two know best. Macbeth, “Insert Strong and Valor Quote Here” is a ferocious fighter, a proven warrior and the tragic hero of The Tragedy of Macbeth.
Time and time again, he has demonstrated his courageous will earning him the title “Thane of Cawdor”, Macbeth is admired as a fierce leader for King Duncan’s army, widely praised by all. King Duncan sees him as loyal peer, a man in which he can entrust his life with. Sadly, Macbeth’s flaws are instigated by his wife’s own dark ambitions, slowly consuming Macbeth’s own pure intentions. He failed his duty as a kingsman and destroyed all core values in which he held dear when he assassinated King Duncan.
While achieving the grasp of more power, his conscience and honor were whisked away forever. Hideki Tojo, was a man esteemed by his actions, complimented by all for his ruthless intentions and having a strict, key sense to detail, he was the face of militarism in Japan. This infamous Japanese leader of World War II started small, only starting out in officer school, he commenced his acceleration of the ranks for the Imperial Japanese Army. His influence landed him to become the Chief of Staff of the Army and in 1937, the Prime Minister.
He found himself guiding an entire military at his fingertips, which he failed to use discretely when he commanded an attack on the United States “At the Imperial Conference on December 1, it was decided to make war against England and the United States”(Hideki Tojo, 1941). He ordered this assignment shortly after a meeting of compromise, which the two nations had a fallout. His secret strike on the US backlashed when met with extreme retaliation eventually forcing himself out of power.
Due to the circumstances of their deposition, Tojo and Macbeth are very much alike, they both had a reputation to retain, an army to lead, and a nation to protect. They encountered their demises once they seized power,” A quote about power” and made wretched decisions soon enough. Macbeth’s fate commenced once his beloved wife persuaded him into the killing of King Duncan, which at the time, he had little ambition to do. His wife was distinctively the driving factor, the catalyst of his degrading moral, all because of her callous insults “Insult Manhood quote”.
Macbeth became haunted by the guilt of his actions” Insert Blood Quote Here” claiming he could never be forgiven for his crimes and he will never be absolved from such. This changed as time passed, Macbeth saw himself turn from a coward to a numb killer, carrying out more dastardly deeds to secure his position of power, losing grasp of of both his friends and self-respect. Becoming so deluided and emotionless, constant betrayal seemed necessary to hold power.
Macbeth destroyed bloodlines of those who could possibly inherit the throne, showing the loss of all the values he held dear before. As time went on, his subordinates came to understand his malevolent intentions, who will soon turn against him like Macbeth has done once before. Macduff, once an adversary of Macbeth, flees from his reign to raise an army to put an end of to the regnant king. Macbeth paranoid and hysterical, does anything and everything to secure his current position.
Tojo successful attacks on the United States allowed him to have complete access and control of Japan’s interior comman . Unlike Macbeth, Tojo stayed loyal to the Emperor even though he had assimilated most infrasturure jurisdiction and stayed true to him until the end, this is when his fate was predetermined. Tojo was soon able to control Japan’s education, industries, and foreign policies but he felt his supremacy could not commensurate to other dictatorships, such as Hitler’s or Stalin’s.
His uncertainty could be compared to Macbeth cowardness before he became insenesilbe, but unlike Macbeth, Tojo only became doubtful after coming to power. As the war persisted, Tojo had to cope with numerous losses against brutal US assualts, which only supplemented the dubiety of his authority and soon enough, his “retirement”. As Macbeth’s emotions subdued to numbness “Insert qoute about numbness”, his legacy fell to ruin. Macduff’s army assailed Macbeth’s kingdom forcing him into a terminal confrotion.
Macbeth meet his end with an ultimate duel with MacDuff, and as the witches predicted “”Beware Macduff; Beware the Thane of Fife”(Shakespeare 4, 1,), his death was carried out swiftly by Macduff. Macbeth was executed by the hands of Macduff, a beheading showing the end of his tyranny. Macbeth’s own people had no remorse, not even a glimpse of pity, for his passing. He left behind a legacy of evil, one of which he could have prented but sadly enough had to happen in order to restore peace in Scotland.
Hediki Tojo saw his quietus once the tide turned for Japan. Tojo was forced into a retirement, relieved of his power. However as the Americans contiune to achieve victory, Tojo’s peers wanted Tojo to remain in power to take the blame of Japan’s actions. “The moment the first American soldier sets foot on the Japanese mainland, all prisoners of war will be shot. ” (Tojo June, 1945), Tojo’s resorted to savagery when defeat was closing in and like Macbeth, had no regard for human life if it resulted in triumph.
Soon enough, defeat was distinctly iminent for Japan, and out of shame and dishonor for himslef, Tojo attempted suicide. Unlike Macbeth, Tojo was given the oppurtunity to appeal for the attrocities he has perpretrated. Decided by US occupants and fellow citizens, they declared him a war criminal and executed him for his crimes. Although, upon facing death, Tojo knew his crimes were unforgivable and only wished for the success of his contry “This is farewell. I shall wait beneath the moss Until the flowers are fragrant In this island country of Japan. (Tojo, December 23, 1948)
To be condemned by the people they tried to protect, to help thrive in a time of need, is perhaps the greatest betrayl of its own. To be killed on such grounds which could have been prevented if it was not for the individual actions taken by a sole leader. The originial intentions may not have been malice, but as time proggress, actions had to be sought to proctect both their power and people. Their death was met with extreme morality with those who objected to their ideology. Both felt the need for remorse in the end, but by that time, there was no more time to repent.
