Compare and Contrast

Macbeth is Shakespeare's bloody tragedy of a skilled Scottish general who wound up in a web of prophecies from three witches; he was consumed with his ambition to become king of Scotland and was reassured by his wife. Things Fall Apart, is about a man named Okonkwo who was a fierce leader of a clan in Umoufia, but his flaws led him to act rationally. Both men were strong leaders who share some similarities and have their own differences, however some of their similar flaws led to their downfall.

It all began when Macbeth received his "promotion" to being Thane of Glamis. Macbeth, along with Banquo, cross paths with the three witch sisters who tell Macbeth he will be made Thane of Cawdor and eventually King of Scotland. Aside from foreseeing Macbeth's future, the witches also tell Banquo he will have sons who become Scottish kings even though Banquo himself will not become king. Neither of the two fully believes in the prophecies they were told until a few men tell Macbeth he has indeed became Thane of Cawdor. Reassured and curious of the rest of the prophecies Macbeth took all measures to get to the throne by killing his friend, King Duncan. The guilt he felt soon drove him mad and led him to kill more people. Macbeth and his wife craved the throne and the bloodbath that ensued led them to madness and their timely demise.

Okonkwo was a strong leader of a clan in Umoufia who, since childhood, was concerned with succeeding and working hard. His hard work and bravery in war put him at a high status in the clan. He was looked up to for defeating Amalinze the Cat, who was undefeated for seven years until Okonkwo came along. His need to not be like his father was his biggest flaw; he wanted to be seen as strong and despised seeming or being weak. Okonkwo's father, Unoka, had a big influence on the type of man he grew up to become, one who provided for his family and had a title to his name. Okonkwo was a man who highly valued strength. Okonkwo's story of success was one that people hear in movies or books--working his way from the bottom to the top and got there successfully.

Furthermore, Macbeth was portrayed as honorable and courageous. Okonkwo was not a bad person, he had good intentions. However, their actions and decisions in regards to their flaws led them to fall. They controlled their own downfalls. Both men were focused on one such thing that could have been trivial in other's eyes, but to them, power, strength, and succeeding were their worlds. Okonkwo was a man of "manliness" and Macbeth was a man of control and power.

Differences of course are what set the two apart. Okonkwo embraces everything that is opposite to what his father was, on purpose. Okonkwo objects to everything his father was and opposed anything he viewed as "soft," for example, showing and sharing emotions. As different as Okonkwo thought he was from his father, they were more alike. He