MacBeth and Nixon: Two Men on the Path to Power

Shakespeare’s MacBeth and Richard Nixon are two personalities who, in their times, experienced phenomenal rises to power from similar situations, their ambition carried them far, despite the costs. Neither of these characters was originally in any position to inherit power, but got there through their own aspirations. They have in common a hunger for power and service and distinction in the military before their ascent to the ‘throne.’ A throne that they performed malicious …

…Richard Nixon, alike, caused their detractors pain and anguish through unfair and malicious tactics. A. Nixon’s campaign tactics 1. Lampooning of Voorhis in his early political career 2. Membership on House of Un-American Activities Committee/Alger Hiss 3. Accusations against Helen Gahagan Douglas B. MacBeth murdering of those in opposition to his rule. 1. Murdered Duncan, who had named a successor other than himself. 2.went on to kill any that had even a small chance of opposing him