Genghis Khan and Macbeth: How the Tyranny Develops

In spite of William Shakespeare’s lifetime existing after the reign of Genghis Khan, the infamous Genghis Khan and Shakespeare’s Macbeth remain similar in their acts of tyranny. Both tyrants valued their pride and idealized sense of self-worth over the bloodshed of innocent victims that happened to be in their way; as a result, Shakespeare’s Macbeth and history’s Genghis Khan became notorious for their tyrannous acts and their means in which they used their power within their reign, motivated mainly by their wives, rather than their impressive military prowess. Moreover, Shakespeare’s Macbeth and the infamous Genghis Khan become tyrants, as established by historians, due to their inability to distinguish the difference between the power held by a king versus a tyrant’s abuse of that power.

In Shakespeare’s play and history, Macbeth and Genghis Khan are constantly seen trying to achieve more in life than originally meant for them by deluding themselves by believing prophecies presented to them. The first time ambition plays a harmful role in Macbeth’s quest for power is when he plans to kill the current king, King Duncan; despite the honors King Duncan gifts to Macbeth for his military accomplishments, Macbeth is driven by his desire for the crown rather than his own morals. Similarly, Genghis Khan’s dark ambition to avenge his father’s death by defeating the Tatars leads to his growth in power. As demonstrated in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth hesitated in killing King Duncan, eventually agreeing after being influenced by Lady Macbeth: “The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step / On which I must fall down, or else o’er-leap, / For in my way it lies” (I.iv.50-53). However, as Macbeth’s growing ambition also led him to kill King Duncan, albeit reluctantly, Genghis Khan’s desire to stay within power left him with no choice but to kill Toghril; Genghis Khan never intended to kill Toghril since the prince had helped him so greatly in obtaining his power, but once he posed a threat to his title, Genghis Khan decided it must be done for fear of being overtaken by the Kereits.

In addition to their own dark ambitions, Genghis Khan and Macbeth are also heavily influenced by their wives; Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth and history’s Borte, Genghis Khan’s wife, emphasize the possibility of women having supposedly male ambitions yet being denied the power to pursue these ambitions due to social constraints. Macbeth’s acknowledgement of Lady Macbeth’s position of power within their marriage mirrors Genghis Khan’s respect towards his wife, Borte. After killing King Duncan, Macbeth finds the urgency to relate to Lady Macbeth: “This have I thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou might’st not lose the due of rejoicing, by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy heart, and farewell” (I.v.10-13). Macbeth values his wife’s opinion and advice to obtain his goals of ruling over Scotland–Lady Macbeth remains fully aware that she is stronger, more ruthless, and more ambitious than her husband despite the limitations placed upon her by societal conventions. Despite being an honorable and noble man, proven through his achievements in the name of Scotland, Macbeth easily becomes corrupted with his ambition to be king through heavy influences of his wife, Lady Macbeth. Comparatively, Genghis Khan respected Borte’s opinions and sought her counsel when it came to dealing with Jamuka rather than acting entirely of impulse.

Macbeth and Genghis Khan’s tyranny became fueled by their military prowess once they rose to power; by maintaining their military power against opponents, Macbeth and Genghis Khan preserved their position of power. Eventually, both Macbeth and Genghis Khan were defeated in battle despite their military experience. Macbeth’s proclamation that “I will not yield, / To kiss the ground before young Malcolm’s feet, / And to be baited with the rabble’s curse. / Though Birnam wood come to Dunsinane, / And thou oppos’d, being of no woman born, / Yet I will try the last. Before my body / I throw my warlike shield: lay on, Macduff, / And damn’d be him that first cries, ‘Hold, enough!’” (V.vii.56-63) highlights his final determination to die with honor befitting that of a soldier. Moreover, Macbeth died a courageous death against Macduff rather than being deceived as he did to late King Duncan. As well, Genghis Khan died due to complications of battle– it is speculated that Genghis Khan was knocked off of his horse and died due from the internal injuries he sustained from the fall.

Tyrants rule oppressively and unjustly, and real and fictional people have paid the price for their cruelty. Most importantly, a king must be loyal to his kingdom above his own interests rather than using his kingdom to further his interests. Had Macbeth not kill Duncan and let his fate play out naturally, King George treated the English colonies as equal people. or Genghis Khan not expanded his empire at the cost of innocent lives, the time period would have experienced a different path of history, ultimately changing the modern world.