Macbeth Free Will Quotes

Macbeth Argumentative Essay

In the tragedy “Macbeth,” written by William Shakespeare, Macbeths free will is shown as he tries to take what is his. “Macbeth” is about a Scottish troop (Macbeth) and his friend Banquo. Macbeth and Banquo meet three witches whom tell them about a prophecy that involves Macbeth and Banquo’s son. One of the prophecies was that Macbeth would become king. The prophecy makes Macbeth’s mind corrupted making him pursue dark actions to overthrow King Duncan. Macbeth’s free will is exhibited by the way he has the inspiration to control what he does throughout the tragedy. People may say that it is fate because the prophecy states that Macbeth will be king, but it also states that Banquo’s sons will be kings in

the future which did not become true.
Macbeth is questioning what actions he is going to take next.

“If it were one when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well/ it were done quickly” (I..vii 1-5). This quote represents the debate when Macbeth is deciding whether he wants to kill king Duncan. This shows free will because he is using his conscience to control his actions. This quote is also free will because he is given the choice to murder king Duncan, but he also can let him go. “The prince of Cumberland! This is a step on which I must fall or else o’erleap, for in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; let not light see my deep desires: the eye wink at the hand; yet let that be, which it is done to see” (I..iv

55-

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60). Once Macbeth find outs about Malcom next up to the throne he is starting to doubt the witch’s prophecy and starts to take matters into his own hands. He also is debating what dark action must be done to deal with this problem. The deep desires represent his goals and ambitions. Macbeths free will gave him the opportunity to make his own decisions.
Macbeths free will is determining to him and others on what kind of person he will become.

“And fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling show’d like a rebel’s whore. but all too weak; for brave Macbeth disdaining fortune, worth his brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution” (I..ii 15-17). This quote is saying that Macbeth should have died in that battle, but he is too strong and powerful for his fate. This shows that “Macbeth” is free will because he is fighting against the odds meaning he should have died in that battle. Macbeth is considered a “damned quarry” per the captain because he has escaped his doom this time, but it will come back to haunt him in the future. “If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me” (I..iii 137-144). In this quote, Macbeth lets chance take its tole rather than murdering anyone else. This conveys free will because Macbeth decides to use chance instead of murder. Chance is also considered free will because he is making bold decisions by himself. Macbeths free will is making others see what kind of leader he is or will be later in the

future.
Macbeth’s life is all dependent on free will because of some of the decisions that he had to make on his own. Some people may say that Macbeths life is fate because of the prophecy the witches told him. “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth, that shall

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be king hereafter!” (I..iii 50-55). This quote is saying after the battle, Macbeth will be faced with a choice of being king, and in the future Banquo’s sons will be kings. The two parts of the prophecy state that Macbeth will become king if he so chooses, and his actions helped to make that come true. The second part about Banquo’s sons becoming kings in the future didn’t come true, therefore only half of the prophecy came true.
Macbeth demonstrates different ways on how he uses free will such as him deciding to kill king Duncan, and deciding to take matters into his own hands on how to become king. Some of the main reasons that Macbeth showed free will was that he put thought into making his own decisions. For example, he took a chance instead of using violence showing his own thought process. Macbeths free will relates to society today by showing that people make their own decisions throughout their own lives.