Heroes come in many shapes and sizes, throughout time many of them have risen and fallen. A hero is characterized as someone that is a leader to his people, they reflect societal views, and yet they have a major flaw that often causes their downfall. During the 20th century a revolutionary man rose from his years of exile to lead the Bolshevik party into power, his name, Vladimir Lenin. Lenin stands as a prime example of a leader that reflects Russia’s social values, and as a flaw for his outspoken nature suffers from a near-death assassination. Vladimir Lenin, like Achilles, looked for ways that benefited him in order to gain power, he was an aggressive man that had a certain set of beliefs that led to become a Marxist. Lenin enrolled in the Kazan University, only to be expelled within his first term for participating in a student demonstration. During his time from his studies, Lenin immersed himself in revolutionary politics, taking a large interest in Karl Marx’s writings, this later played a large influence during his time of power. Lenin in many cases is similar to Achilles, a fictional warrior from the Iliad. In book 22, Priam compares Achilles to Orion’s dog, to Greeks this is a bad omen. Priam then turns to his son, who stands outside the gates of Troy, and tells him this, “He is more powerful by far than you, and pitiless” (143, bk 22, lines 47-48). Priam knows that Hector has no chance of winning against Achilles, for he is out to get revenge on the death of his
The Lives of Others and Goodbye, Lenin are two movies cleverly depicted about the fall of Communism. One director chooses to portray humor as the base of his movie, while the other chooses a more dark and serious tone. Both directors clearly want their viewers to understand the seriousness of what the fall of the Berlin Wall meant and the importance of Germany’s East West unionization for the citizens of the GSD. However, a hidden truth in both movies is revealed. Truth about a culture that once existed, but has since been swept under the carpet of change. The late 80s brought on the fall of the Berlin Wall signifying the end of the Stalinist regimes that had once held so much power. Outlined below are two movies that, while so different in their delivery, end with the same clear message.
“Freedom in capitalist society always remains about the same as it was in ancient Greek republics: Freedom for slave owners” (Lenin). Lenin was founder of the Russian Communist Party, leader of the Bolshevik Revolution, and architect and first head of the Soviet state. He was also the inspiration for ‘Leninism” which was conjoined with Marx's work to create Marxism-Leninism. He has been regarded as one of the greatest revolutionary leaders and thinkers since Marx. Vladimir Lenin was an important Russian leader that helped shape Russian society to what it is now.
Lenin and Stalin had opposing ways on what the Communist government should look like. Lenin gave the power to the Communist party, and Stalin gave most of the power to himself. Both Lenin and Stalin used a secret police force that kept the power. Lenin's new economic policy allowed for some peasants to have their own land, while Stalin made a Command economy were the government owns everything. Under Lenin, the standard of living rose for many peasant and workers. Under Stalin the standard of living fell and peasants were struggling. Lenin and Stalin had differents views on Russian politics, but Stalin's way contributed to more suffering of people.
With the October revolution in 1917, Lenin managed to execute a successful coup d’état against the provisional government of Russia and with the death of the constituent assembly early 1918; Lenin and his Bolsheviks had finally control over Russia. However this was just the beginning of various problems he would be facing. This raised the debate on whether Lenin could deal with these problems or not. Many of the quarrels originated from the Tsar’s regime and the provisional government such as Russia’s participation in WW1 as well as economic underdevelopment. Immediate problems such as the raging civil war existed as
In order to establish whether Lenin did, indeed lay the foundation for Stalinism, two questions need to be answered; what were Lenin’s plans for the future of Russia and what exactly gave rise to Stalinism? Official Soviet historians of the time at which Stalin was in power would have argued that each one answers the other. Similarly, Western historians saw Lenin as an important figure in the establishment of Stalin’s socialist state. This can be partly attributed to the prevailing current of pro-Stalin anti-Hitler sentiments amongst westerners until the outbreak of the cold war. As relations changed between Russia and the rest of the world, so did the main historical schools of thought.
According to the History.com Staff, “The October Revolution began on November 6 and 7, 1917 (or October 24 and 25 on the Julian calendar).” (Russian Revolution”). The October Revolution has also been called the Bolshevik Revolution since the Bolshevik Party played a crucial role in the revolution. The leader of the Bolshevik Party, Vladimir Lenin was a big supporter of Karl Marx. Another Marxist who leads this revolution was Leon Trotsky. In an article by the History.com Staff, “Lenin had created an, almost, bloodless coup d’état against the provisional government.” (“Russian Revolution”). The Bolshevik revolution started when, Alexander Kerensky, rather than follow an order. On October 24th, Kerensky ordered troops that were loyal, to act against the Bolshevik. Encyclopædia Britannica tells us that, “Kerensky was a socialist revolutionary who served as head of the Russian Provisional Government.” (“Aleksandr Kerensky”).
The question of whether or not Stalinism was a logical continuation of Leninism is a difficult one. Stalinism did take significantly more drastic measures than Leninism did. There were differences in policy. But in spite of these, Stalinism still found its basis in Leninism. Even Trotsky, a friend of Lenin and a staunch opponent of Stalin, grudgingly admits that "Stalinism did issue from Bolshevism" (Trotsky). Stalin's policy of socialism in one country, his use of terror to eliminate opposition, and his suppression of democracy and the soviets were all characteristics of Lenin well before they were characteristic of Stalin. Although some of Stalin's policies were different from those of Lenin, what difference Stalinism did
women in her church because of the way Dennis doted on her. He would often put away her coat and hold doors for her. Also was an attentive father who took his kids camping and fishing. In addition, he was a very active member of his church, Christ Lutheran. As the congregation’s president he would organize meetings and help around the church. His job had a major part to play in his seizing of victims. In 1991 he became a code compliance officer in Park City, where he lived. He was a stickler and would wonder through backyards chasing stray pets. Children would take cover whenever the saw his white van approach (Chu). The job was very important to him, it allowed freedom to let his mind wonder. The police said it was a safer way to help him occupy his time for 8 hours a day for 5 days a week (Douglas 324). “His external life was a mask of sanity. His internal life was one violent fantasies” (Chu). Mix of bad and good traits made him
Stalin was very harsh and strict about his rules as a leader. He went too far when anyone who didn’t agree with his rules were sent away to Siberian ¨work¨ camps, and for the Ukrainians who wouldn't give up their farms they got all of their crops confiscated. Causing the starvation of 10 million Ukrainian people. When the depression hit Japanese exports to the USA and Europe stopped because they had to focus on their own industries. That cost a lot of jobs in Japan, silk farmers suffered and the rice crops also failed and caused famine. People became frustrated and started to blame the government.They were angry and needed to do something about it. Japan went too far when they invaded Manchuria in 1931. Hitler was a very powerful influential
Weak and unstable in its revolution and a battle on the Eastern Front, Communism weeded its way into Russia and changed the lives of millions of people. Under the influence of Lenin and his principles events such as the Red Terror, overall famine, and slave labor camps became the country’s reality. Russia participation in the war may have been stopped, but the consequences were much greater. However, this could have never happened without Germany’s interference in the February Revolution of Russia, helping Vladimir Lenin return to Russia with his Marxist ideals and push the provisional government out of office. The effects Communism had on
Most historians agree that throughout his political career Trotsky displayed various talents and abilities. However, these skills alone were not enough to enable him to become the supreme leader of the USSR. In the context of the workings of the Bolshevik party to rise to the highest office of the politburo required certain traits and qualities as well as an ability to utilise the party machine and exploit its members-talents, traits and qualities Trotsky clearly lacked. For these reasons the statement is highly accurate because in spite of his ability, Trotsky’s failure to rise to the ‘highest office in the land’ was a consequence of his arrogance, political naivety and inability to turn success into political capital.
Yet it was Joseph Stalin who was eventually to emerge as leader of the party. This was largely because Stalin was a clever and astute politician, who was seen as being a man of the people. He was able to manoeuvre himself into a position of power through his role as General Secretary of the Communist Party. Once in power, he exerted an iron grip on the USSR. Stalin’s aims differed from Lenin’s in that he did not expect to spread Communism worldwide until Communism was secure in the USSR.
The Eastern world is full of revolutionary events with few to stand up and lead the people it is no wonder those who do, are considered heroes. Unlike villains who are revered and remembered for their heinous doings heroes are the light in the dark world society calls home. Finally without real world heroes who would our children look up to and strive to become? Through compassion, empathy, and kindness this man was able to appeal the masses and raise money to help children in poverty stricken countries; Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama.
only had the firm support of 15 of 25 members on the 15th of October.
The Success of the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 Part 1 Karl Marks was not Russian and he died 34 years before the Russian revolution, he was a German who spent most his life in England. He worked as a journalist but wrote books on history, religion, economics, society, and philosophy. Marx hated the system of capitalism because he thought that it was capitalism that had produced the problems of industry, poor living conditions and the social gap of the rich and poor. He thought that the system destroyed people and made them greedy and that people only wanted something if it was worth money. Karl Marx realised that there was not enough money to make everyone rich but he did thin k the world