to what extent did mussolini’s character and personality 3

7/29/2019 To what extent did Mussolinis character and personality 3

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To what extent was Mussolinis character and beliefs, shaped by the early

years of his life, reflected in adulthood and how did this influence his

decision-making?


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One of the most notorious and intriguing dictators of the twentieth century, Benito Mussolini

had a huge impact on Italy during his reign. He wasnt always this powerful dictator, and had

in fact endured a difficult childhood. He was an intelligent and sharp individual, a charismatic

leader with exceptional oratorical skills. However his character remained flawed, being

shaped by the harsh experiences he endured during his youth. They ultimately developed his

thirst for power, a hunger for adulation, a violent, cold-blooded nature and a selfish

personality. These to a great extent influenced his decisions during his political reign and led

him to make some rash and regretful choices. Other factors that played a role in his downfall-

included Italys economic situation after World WarI and his personal relationship with the

German dictator, Adolf Hitler.

Mussolinis childhood was very rough and difficult and it was the experiences in these years

that shaped his beliefs and personality. He was born into a relatively poor family, to Rosa

Mussolini, in a quaint Italian county, Predappio. His father, Alessandro was a blacksmith often

without work, a womaniser, a man who believed in corporal punishment who never went to

Church and a socialist.1*He brought him up to be very conscious of the injustices of society

and to hate the bourgeoisie, the oppressors of the proletariatAlessandro taught him to

resist authority and to rebeltaught him solely the ways of revolutionary socialism. *2As a

result he was often disobedient and became interested in politics and was drawn to socialist

ideas. The effects of his fathers teachings were seen in his day-to-day life where as early as

eight he was a troublemaker and a thief, constantly got into fights and was incredibly

stubborn. His rebellious nature only intensified upon being sent him to a boarding school

where because of his familys poor financial situation, Benito grew up detesting the wealthy

and their ease of life. This hatred fuelled him through his whole political career. He expressed

this anger through extreme rebellious acts, which led to him stabbing one of his peers with a

pocketknife. *3

Despite these horrid acts, Mussolini was a sharp individual and also worked

hard during school. He was involved and participated in debates and discussions. He

developed excellent oration skills here, with his speeches making it to the papers. *4

These

skills proved useful and remained evident throughout his career. His upbringing was far from

illustrious, but it gave him the character, the opinions, and the stubborn cruelty in protecting

his pride and ideal that he is known for today.

1 Benito Mussolini- David Downing pg 6

2 Mussolini; A biography - Jasper Ridley pg 11

3 Benito Mussolini- David Downing- pg 7

4Mussolinis roots; the childhood and teenage years of Mussolini- Alice Mortiaryhttp://voices.yahoo.com/mussolinis-roots-childhood-teenage-years-of-3172176.html?cat=37
http://voices.yahoo.com/mussolinis-roots-childhood-teenage-years-of-3172176.html?cat=37http://voices.yahoo.com/mussolinis-roots-childhood-teenage-years-of-3172176.html?cat=37http://voices.yahoo.com/mussolinis-roots-childhood-teenage-years-of-3172176.html?cat=37


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His thirst for power and glory and his arrogant nature caused him to make many rash

decisions as dictator. For example he insisted upon being known as 'His Excellency, Head of

Government, Duce of Fascism, and Founder of the Empire'. He even went on to create and

hold the supreme military rank of First Marshal of the Empire. *5It is clear therefore that he

wanted to reinforce his position of power as a result of his harsh youth where he detested the

inequality of power between the rich and poor. In an effort to expand Italys economic and

social status after it had been badly damaged in WW1 he sought about taking action. In his

arrogance however he did not undertake well thought out actions. At the Battle for Grain

Mussolini wanted to raise wheat production to reduce Italys need to buy foreign wheat. Italian

wheat became expensive at home and the price of bread rose. As a result, this hit the poor

the worst, as bread was a major part of their diet. Due to this however Italy was able to

endure the effects of the depression better than most countries. Therefore though he had

some successes from the policy his failure at the whole picture hurt the economy and

increased discontent amongst the masses. *6 Mussolini took many extreme actions to fulfil his

thirst for power an example being a coup. Not being happy with the socialists having more

seats than the fascists in parliament, he gathered his followers, dressed in black shirts, and

marched on Rome to take control of the government. All of this was done with little opposition

and Mussolini popularity enlarged significantly. This expresses Mussolinis rebellious nature

and portrays the revolutionary his father brought him up to be.

Influenced by his youth, he saw violence as violence as the solution to his problems and a

method of asserting his dominance and expressing his beliefs. He used it as a means to gain

the vital support of the people and take action to achieve his rise to power. One of the crucial

ways he gained this support and came to power was by killing the socialist politician, Matteoti

when he spoke out nationally about Mussolini rigging the ballot. He also suppressed and

intimidated various minor groups to support his party and to ensure his dictatorship.

Mussolini formed the squadristi, *7

Fascists dressed in black shirts to carry out these violent

acts. For instance when passing the Acrebo Law *8, which gave the fascist party a majority of

deputies in parliament, he used the squadristi to inject fear into the public and ensure people

voted correctly. This violent and bullying nature is evident in Mussolinis childhood and clearly

carried on even into his adulthood. His encouragement towards Italy fighting WW1 conveys

his love for violence and war.

5 Good Reads- Benito Mussolini

http://www.goodreads.com/characters/26557-benito-mussolini

6 History learning site- The Economy in Fascist Italy

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/economy_in_fascist_italy.htm

7 Interlink illustrated histories, Mussolini and Fascism- Marco Palla pg 21

8 Britannica Encyclopedia- Acrebo lawhttp://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/755667/Acerbo-Law
http://www.goodreads.com/characters/26557-benito-mussolinihttp://www.goodreads.com/characters/26557-benito-mussolinihttp://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/economy_in_fascist_italy.htmhttp://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/economy_in_fascist_italy.htmhttp://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/755667/Acerbo-Lawhttp://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/755667/Acerbo-Lawhttp://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/755667/Acerbo-Lawhttp://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/economy_in_fascist_italy.htmhttp://www.goodreads.com/characters/26557-benito-mussolini


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One of the reasons behind Mussolinis violence was his hatred towards humanity. He

believed they that they were all selfish and out for themselves. *9

This possibly developed

through his rough childhood where he wasnt given the support of many people and had to

fend for himself. He neglected to realize that in the natural world, living beings are not always

in conflict; they can help each other through symbiosis. Mussolini's creation of the violent

nationalist movement of Fascism reflected his feelings to towards the people, through his

strict discipline and lack of sympathy for people he deemed weak. Before the elections he

made himself popular with the people reducing work hours and taxes for big businesses *10

however upon becoming dictator he showed little care, abolishing trade unions, introducing

iron discipline in factories and businesses and reducing wages. *11

In this was Mussolini was

able to operate Italy like an army that he controlled and asserted his dominance over.

Growing up he was made to feel inferior by the wealthier sections of society and this probably

influenced his future decisions to control others.

Mussolini was proud of himself and his public appearance and was keen to portray himself as

a man of action among the Italian people. For instance, he often wore his military uniform

among the public. This was possibly in order to portray himself as fearless and majestic.

Despite his bad health and digestion that had given him trouble since his time in Switzerland

he still fought to maintain his public appearance and showed no signs of illness to the public.

Newspapers were forbidden from mentioning his name and the Italian people were not told

about the glasses he needed to wear so as to maintain his perfect public image. *12

It is clear

as therefore that he valued his public image to a great extent and was willing to risk his own

well being at maintaining it. He even attempted to portray this perfection through his family

whom he wanted to hold as an example to the country. However outside the public light he

wasnt a good husband or a father and he behaved more like a single man. His continual ill

health must have affected his mind and led him to be further isolated from his family. He was

so far above the ordinary people that he had no real contact with anyone and grew out of

touch with society. *13

Therefore his strong and bold appearance was merely a facade and

inside he was in fact miserable and uneasy. This misery may have had an effect on his

thinking and possibly lead him to make some regrettable decisions such as his rushed

decision to enter WWII.

9 Benito Mussolini-David Downing pg33

10 History learning site- Mussolinis dictatorship

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/mussolini_dictatorship.htm


12 Benito Mussolini- David Downing pg 35

13 Benito Mussolini-David Downing pg 35
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/mussolini_dictatorship.htmhttp://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/mussolini_dictatorship.htmhttp://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/mussolini_dictatorship.htm


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Due to Mussolinis ambitious personality that compelled him to be the best, he developed

feelings of jealousy, upon seeing Hitlers territorial victories and achievements. Mussolini was

scornful of Hitler and his great power. Mussolinis egoistic character however probably

influenced his opinions and he thus described Hitler and his theories as coarse and

simplistic in comparison to his own.He also had a low opinion of Hitlers elevation to power,

which he saw as less glorious than his own. *14

As mentioned however these feelings may be

biased due to his slight jealousy for Hitlers power. Even as a child Mussolini had detested the

wealthy, and those with great power. *15

Power that he was unable to achieve then, which

reflects his distaste for a powerful man such as Hitler amongst whom he may have felt

inferior. The two however managed to form an alliance and created the Rome -Berlin axis

over mutual goals and similar beliefs such as their interest in a totalitarian government system

and their use of violence and propaganda to gain their political strength. *16

Upon seeing

Germany in such a hurry to enter the war the Mussolini did not want to be left behind. Despite

the warning from the Italians and saner politicians he nonetheless chose to enter, ill prepared.

*17

He was so ambitious and anxious not to miss any occasion to profit from Germanys

success. This expresses Mussolinis thirst for power and glory that he was willing to achieve

at any cost. The war a complete failure as the people expected. His rash decision resulted in

serious consequences. There was a quick drop in popularity for Mussolini and shortage of

food and resources for Italy. Italians were being forced to take jobs in Germanys war

industries where they received poor treatment. Mussolinis response to this was to blame

everyone but himself calling the Italians, soft and unworthy. It is clear therefore that Mussolini

intentions were purely selfish.

Mussolinis powerful speaking skills that had developed through his youth proved a

tremendous asset allowing him to lead Italy. As a child Mussolini was occasionally involved

in debates and discussions. He developed excellent oration skills here, with his speeches

making it to the papers. *18

Through his youth he worked as a journalist among many

newspapers including Avanti *19

for many years developing great critical writing skills. With

14 Hitler and Mussolini- Alpha History

http://alphahistory.com/nazigermany/hitler-and-mussolini/

15 Romantic Heroism in War- Frank. E. Smitha

http://www.fsmitha.com/h2/ch12.htm


17 Benito Mussolini-David Downing pg 43

18Mussolinis roots; the childhood and teenage years of Mussolini- Alice Mortiary

http://voices.yahoo.com/mussolinis-roots-childhood-teenage-years-of-3172176.html?cat=37

19 History learning site- Benito Mussolinihttp://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/benito_mussolini.htm
http://alphahistory.com/nazigermany/hitler-and-mussolini/http://alphahistory.com/nazigermany/hitler-and-mussolini/http://www.fsmitha.com/h2/ch12.htmhttp://www.fsmitha.com/h2/ch12.htmhttp://voices.yahoo.com/mussolinis-roots-childhood-teenage-years-of-3172176.html?cat=37http://voices.yahoo.com/mussolinis-roots-childhood-teenage-years-of-3172176.html?cat=37http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/benito_mussolini.htmhttp://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/benito_mussolini.htmhttp://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/benito_mussolini.htmhttp://voices.yahoo.com/mussolinis-roots-childhood-teenage-years-of-3172176.html?cat=37http://www.fsmitha.com/h2/ch12.htmhttp://alphahistory.com/nazigermany/hitler-and-mussolini/


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many years of experience in persuasive and creative writing and debating skills Mussolini

was able to sway and influence the public with his charisma and words. Mussolini was able

to fire up the people and motivate discontent individuals. His speeches usually did not make

sense however but they appealed more to peoples emotions than reason. *20

As a result he

was able to convince the Italian people to join his goal of rebuilding Italy and expanding its

power. They were unable to see that he did in fact not have the best intentions for them but

was merely ruling for his own power and glory, until it was too late. We become strong, I feel,

when we have no friends upon whom to lean, or to look to for moral guidanceLet us have a

dagger between our teeth, a bomb in our hands, and an infinite scorn in our hearts *21

His

language is very direct and persuasive and emotive and creative use of words that reaches to

every member of the audience and thus explains how he managed to captivate and engage

masses of people.

In conclusion, despite the many flaws that were present in his character Mussolini holds to be

amongst the most intriguing and notorious dictators of all time. It is the experiences and

difficult obstacles faced during his youth that can ultimately be seen to have shaped his

personality and beliefs to a large extent. These included his violent and aggressive nature, his

vaulting ambition, his arrogance and his selfishness. Such failings in his character are evident

through his political reign and can be seen to influence his decision-making through his rash

and regretful choices, in particular his decision to enter Italy into WWII completely

unprepared.

20A chip off the old block? Mussolini- Nicholas Farrell's

http://www.arlindo-correia.com/060204.html

21 Brainy Quotes, -Benito Mussolini quoteshttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/benito_mussolini.html
http://www.arlindo-correia.com/060204.htmlhttp://www.arlindo-correia.com/060204.htmlhttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/benito_mussolini.htmlhttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/benito_mussolini.htmlhttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/benito_mussolini.htmlhttp://www.arlindo-correia.com/060204.html

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