POWERPOWERANDAND

CORRUPTIONCORRUPTIONThe World at the Hands of Corrupted MenThe World at the Hands of Corrupted Men

By: Jenna, Kristin and Shantel By: Jenna, Kristin and Shantel

DEFINITIONSDEFINITIONS

PowerPower: a person, group, : a person, group, or nation having great or nation having great influence or control influence or control over others.over others.

CorruptionCorruption: the act or : the act or result of corrupting result of corrupting (ruining or subverting (ruining or subverting the honesty or integrity the honesty or integrity of).of).

RISE TO POWERRISE TO POWER

Macbeth gained his kingship through unscrupulous Macbeth gained his kingship through unscrupulous means. After hearing the three witches’ prophecies means. After hearing the three witches’ prophecies and their predictions for Macbeth to become king, and their predictions for Macbeth to become king, Lady Macbeth helps him devise a plan to murder Lady Macbeth helps him devise a plan to murder Duncan. While their beloved leader lies dead and his Duncan. While their beloved leader lies dead and his son flees to England, Macbeth is given the throne.son flees to England, Macbeth is given the throne.

"All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! All "All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter."hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter."

Adolf HitlerAdolf Hitler Adolf Hitler’s rise to Adolf Hitler’s rise to

power began in 1919 power began in 1919 after the German after the German Empire was defeated Empire was defeated and the nation’s and the nation’s economy lay in ruins. economy lay in ruins.

He joined a small group He joined a small group of men called the Nazis of men called the Nazis and quickly became and quickly became their leader. their leader.

At first Hitler was not taken At first Hitler was not taken seriously, but his fiery words seriously, but his fiery words and brilliant blue eyes seemed to and brilliant blue eyes seemed to hypnotize people. hypnotize people.

He made them believe he was He made them believe he was their friend. their friend.

In 1933, Hitler became dictator In 1933, Hitler became dictator of Germany and regained some of Germany and regained some of the land lost in WWI.of the land lost in WWI.

The key to Hitler and Macbeth’s The key to Hitler and Macbeth’s success was their profound success was their profound communicational techniques. communicational techniques.

They were extremely skilled in They were extremely skilled in persuading others to fulfill their persuading others to fulfill their demands. demands.

These men succeeded in brainwashing These men succeeded in brainwashing their followers so that they honestly their followers so that they honestly believed that terrible acts such as believed that terrible acts such as persecuting Jews and murdering the persecuting Jews and murdering the “enemy” were justified.“enemy” were justified.

Macbeth talked the murderers Macbeth talked the murderers into believing Banquo was into believing Banquo was their enemy. This lead to the their enemy. This lead to the murder of Banquo.murder of Banquo.

““Know that it was he in the Know that it was he in the times past which held you so times past which held you so under fortune, which you under fortune, which you thought had been our innocent thought had been our innocent self: this I made good to you in self: this I made good to you in our last conference; pass’d in our last conference; pass’d in probation with you, how you probation with you, how you were borne in hand, how were borne in hand, how cross’d the instruments, who cross’d the instruments, who wrought with them.”wrought with them.”

Hitler told people what they wanted to hear in order to get what he wanted- power and wealth.

“It wasn’t the intellectuals who gave me the courage to start this huge task. It was from two classes alone: the German farmers and workers.”

“If freedom is short of weapons, we must compensate with willpower.”

HOW THEY USED THAT POWERHOW THEY USED THAT POWER

““Had I power, I should pour the sweet milk of Had I power, I should pour the sweet milk of concord into hell, concord into hell, Uproar the universal peace, confound Uproar the universal peace, confound All unity on earth.”All unity on earth.”

It can be said that Hitler and Macbeth ruined It can be said that Hitler and Macbeth ruined their countries.their countries.

Macbeth transformed Macbeth transformed Scotland into a dismal place Scotland into a dismal place to live:to live:

Each new morn Each new morn New widows howl, new New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows orphans cry, new sorrows Strike heaven on the face Strike heaven on the face that it resounds that it resounds As if it felt with Scotland, As if it felt with Scotland, and yell’d out and yell’d out Like syllable of dolour.Like syllable of dolour.

With his power, Hitler promised to rebuild With his power, Hitler promised to rebuild Germany into a mighty empire that would last a Germany into a mighty empire that would last a thousand years. thousand years. Instead, he provoked WWII in 1939, spreading Instead, he provoked WWII in 1939, spreading terror and death through much of the world.terror and death through much of the world.

•With his racial views, thirst for power and ideas of a perfect world, Hitler succeeded in murdering millions of people he believed to be racially inferior, six million of which came from a Jewish background. He and his Nazis abused them, robbed them of their homes and life styles, locked them in concentration camps, and executed them.

Germany became a nation of uniforms, goose stepping to Germany became a nation of uniforms, goose stepping to Hitler’s tune, where boys of ten were taught to throw hand Hitler’s tune, where boys of ten were taught to throw hand grenades and women were regarded as breeding machines.grenades and women were regarded as breeding machines.

““I swear by God that, for the leader of the German state and I swear by God that, for the leader of the German state and people, Adolf Hitler, I am ready to risk my life at any time.”people, Adolf Hitler, I am ready to risk my life at any time.”

““The party is Hitler. But Hitler is Germany and Germany is The party is Hitler. But Hitler is Germany and Germany is Hitler.”Hitler.”

““Have no pity! Act brutally!”Have no pity! Act brutally!”

Hitler can be blamed for the Hitler can be blamed for the destruction of Germany at destruction of Germany at the end of WWII. the end of WWII.

He severed relationships He severed relationships between Germany and between Germany and neighboring countries, neighboring countries, people and foreign friends people and foreign friends for a lifetime. for a lifetime.

The bombing of Germany The bombing of Germany by the Allies was entirely by the Allies was entirely his fault as he provoked his fault as he provoked feelings of resentment feelings of resentment around the world.around the world.

DOWNFALLDOWNFALL

Macbeth and Hitler are said to have met their own dooms. Macbeth and Hitler are said to have met their own dooms.

Macbeth was very overconfident in believing that he could not Macbeth was very overconfident in believing that he could not be killed by any man born of woman. This caused Macbeth’s be killed by any man born of woman. This caused Macbeth’s death because he foolishly thought Macduff was incapable of death because he foolishly thought Macduff was incapable of killing him.killing him.

Hitler was also overconfident and refused to listen to the Hitler was also overconfident and refused to listen to the advice of his generals even while Germany was being defeated advice of his generals even while Germany was being defeated in the last years of the war. This eventually led to his suicide.in the last years of the war. This eventually led to his suicide.

CHARACTERCHARACTER ““As justice, verity, temperance, stableness, As justice, verity, temperance, stableness,

Bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, Bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude.”Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude.”

Macbeth and Hitler both lacked these king Macbeth and Hitler both lacked these king becoming graces. This can partially account becoming graces. This can partially account for their failure to become heroic leaders.for their failure to become heroic leaders.

““Fair is foul and foul is Fair is foul and foul is fair.”fair.”

Hitler and Macbeth Hitler and Macbeth appeared to be good but appeared to be good but gave in to the temptations of gave in to the temptations of a royal command. a royal command. Underneath, these men were Underneath, these men were evil and corrupt in the worst evil and corrupt in the worst ways.ways.Macbeth was loyal to Macbeth was loyal to Duncan until he received the Duncan until he received the witch’s prophecies.witch’s prophecies.

““A good and virtuous nature may A good and virtuous nature may recoil in an imperial charge.”recoil in an imperial charge.”

 “Angels are bright still, though the  “Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell from God’s graces.”brightest fell from God’s graces.”

Even a generally good person Even a generally good person can become corrupt when can become corrupt when faced with the prospect of faced with the prospect of having power. having power.

Hitler and Macbeth were Hitler and Macbeth were perfect candidates for this perfect candidates for this theory, as they were willing to theory, as they were willing to go to extreme lengths to obtain go to extreme lengths to obtain their power. Once this was their power. Once this was achieved, a “few” murders achieved, a “few” murders didn’t take a second thought if didn’t take a second thought if it meant that their precious it meant that their precious power would be maintained. power would be maintained.

In this sense, Macbeth and In this sense, Macbeth and Hitler were truly alike—selfish Hitler were truly alike—selfish and power hungry.and power hungry.

THE NATURE OF MANTHE NATURE OF MAN Men have no pleasure, but on the contrary a Men have no pleasure, but on the contrary a

great deal of grief in keeping company where great deal of grief in keeping company where there is no power able to overawe them allthere is no power able to overawe them all

In the nature of man we find three principle In the nature of man we find three principle causes of quarrel: competition, diffidence, and causes of quarrel: competition, diffidence, and glory.glory.

Competition, Diffidence, and Glory. Competition, Diffidence, and Glory. The first makes men invade for gain, the second for The first makes men invade for gain, the second for

safety, and the third for reputation. safety, and the third for reputation. The first use violence to make themselves masters of The first use violence to make themselves masters of

other men’s persons, the second to defend them, the other men’s persons, the second to defend them, the third for trifles, as a word, a smile, a different third for trifles, as a word, a smile, a different opinion, and any other sign of under value, either opinion, and any other sign of under value, either direct in their persons or by reflection in their nation, direct in their persons or by reflection in their nation, their profession, or their name. their profession, or their name.

During the time men live without power to keep them During the time men live without power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called all in awe, they are in that condition which is called war, and such a war is of every man against every war, and such a war is of every man against every manman

CREDITSCREDITS

Quotes from “Macbeth” and “Hitler’s Quotes from “Macbeth” and “Hitler’s Germany”Germany”Pictures from www.geocities.comPictures from www.geocities.comWorld Book EncyclopediaWorld Book Encyclopedia