How Is Macbeth A Tyrant

Macbeth is a story of corruption and betrayal, but more importantly tyrannical leadership. Many Characters call Macbeth a tyrant, leading reading knowing he is a tyrant but not the reason why. Macbeth himself exhibits the traits that many modern people classify as a dictator, and his actions only exemplify his tyrannical traits. The researched traits of tyrants and Duncan will show exactly why Macbeth is a tyrant.

One of the most common traits of a bad leader or tyrant is they feel as if they must prove why they are the leader often blaming others if they fail. Tyrants commonly lack confident leader best stated by Stephanie Hardwick’s understanding Tyrannical Leadership “They easily go into blaming others, as they believe that the outside world

This is best summarized by Jeremy E. Sherman’s Here’s How People Become Tyrants at Home or Anywhere “Just living from moment to moment, enjoying what success you gain without worrying about how you gained it.” (Sherman). Macbeth best shows this by not caring much about the victims he killed, eventually stating he will just get used to it “My strange and self-abuse Is the initiate fear that wants hard use. We are yet but young in deed.” (Shakespeare Act III). Another example of Macbeths drive for power is his desire to kill his most loyal friend simply because his descendants will be kings. This example shows how Macbeth not only lives moment to moment, but also cares little about his actions and those around him in his desire for power. Macbeth also shows this by not caring that his wife had passed away and is more focused on his crown and the battle before him “She should have died hereafter; There would have been a time for such a word.” (Shakespeare Act V). The best real-life example is how Hitler invaded one of his biggest allies, the Soviet Union just because he wanted more power and

Duncan is a fantastic leader and an even better one when comparing him to Macbeth. Duncan praises his subject and rewards them and feels bad if he can't “The sin of my ingratitude even now Was heavy on me. Thou art so far before, That swiftest wing of recompense is slow” (Shakespeare Act I). This statement means Duncan not only feels bad for not rewarding Mabeth and Banquo he feels they are entitled to it. While Macbeth treats his subject cruelly and threatens them “If thou speak'st false, Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive Till famine cling thee. If thy speech be sooth, I care not if thou dost for me as much” (Shakespeare Act V). The servant told Macbeth that the woods were moving, and Macbeth threatened him with execution. This also builds how the subjects see as Macbeth the Tyrant, while also see Duncan as a king “Had he not resembled My father as he slept, I had done't.” (Shakespeare Act II). This statement shows that Lady Macbeth who has stated she would kill a baby could not kill Duncan because he is a fatherly figure and kind. “You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting, With most admired disorder.” (Shakespeare Act III) This statement although not directly stating his subject hate him does state that Macbeth destroyed the fun and has killed the mood with his illness, also leading to the lords