Macbeth's Similarities to Modern Dictators

Macbeth, while maybe not as corrupt and extreme as some modern day dictators, does have some resemblances to Joseph Stalin, who was the dictator of the Soviet Union from the 1920's to the 1950's. Some similarities can be drawn between these two leaders, especially concerning their ways of gaining power. In Macbeth's case, he killed King Duncan in order to become the king of Scotland. Similarly, it is speculated that Lenin, the dictator of the Soviet Union prior to Stalin, died of poison which caused seizures, the accepted cause of his death. Although this is only suspected and cannot be confirmed, it would make sense, considering that the only thing/person remaining in the way of Stalin becoming the ruler of the Soviet Union was Lenin. Even if this speculation is inaccurate, Stalin is similar to Macbeth because of his order for another death. Following the death of Lenin, Stalin had only one political opponent to become ruler of the Soviet Union. To ensure that he would become the leader, Stalin hired men to kill Trotsky, his opponent, just as Macbeth hired murderers to kill Banquo, who was Macbeth's opponent, as it was prophesied that Banquo's children would be kings.