The Importance Of Fate In Macbeth

When someone says the word “Fate”, it can turn into a large debate. Some people say you can’t change your future because it is already determined. Others say your choices make up your future. The reader may say that your choices can determine your fate. If he/she makes good choices, then their fate could be just as good; bad choices can lead to a dreadful fate (Paris). This happens in the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare. Macbeth was a good man with good values and morals. He had a hopeful future/fate until it was corrupted by his own horrid actions. Had Macbeth stuck to his lawful morals, his life would have been much less complicated and not filled with guilt and fear. At the beginning of the play, three witches appeared and told

Macbeth was indeed named the Thane of Cawdor. Once this happened, the thought of becoming king was planted into Macbeth’s mind. At this point, Macbeth’s Fate is still decent. He still has a bright future because his actions have remained loyal and pure. He has minor concerns that are corrupt, but he has no intentions on acting upon these thoughts. Macbeth believes that he will be crowned by chance. The play goes on to explain how King Duncan has seen Macbeth’s righteousness and favors him. This brings us to believe that when Duncan announces his successor it will surely be Macbeth, who has displayed his courageousness many times, rather than his son, Malcolm, who has not nearly been as honorable. Nevertheless, it is Malcolm who is set to be the next king. This action sends Macbeth into a panic. His sinful concerns begin to surface. His fate of becoming king seems impossible unless Macbeth can work up the “strength” to murder Duncan and his son (Cohen). At this point in the play, we have discovered that Macbeth has a need for power, and an even greater need to be good; at least until now. Macbeth is allowing the need to power to overcome him (Cohen). When Duncan chooses Malcolm over Macbeth, it triggers Macbeth’s “murder mode.” He can no longer see an honorable way to take the throne. Here, we sense that Macbeth’s single-mindedness will cause his fate to disintegrate into something miserable.

Macbeth

I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o 'erleaps itself And falls on th 'other. ( 1. 7. 13-28)

In the quote above, we see that Macbeth doesn 't actually WANT to kill Duncan. However, Lady Macbeth comes into the picture. What she thinks is all that matters to Macbeth. Lady Macbeth tells him that she will leave him if he does not commit the murder because it means he is a coward. Now, Macbeth no longer has the need for power, he is scared of his wife’s rejection. After his debate with his wife, Macbeth goes off to kill King Duncan and later on becomes king. The witches ' prophecy yet again, has come true. In spite of that there is still a one more prediction from the witches; Banquo’s descendants will be king. Macbeth believes that if he kills Banquo and his son, Fleance, then he will have mastered fate and all would be adequate again. Murderers are then set out to kill them both, but Fleance escapes. Macbeth visits the Witches once more only to reveal that Banquo’s son will still become king. They also tell him to fear Macduff. He then begins to panic because he knows Macduff is coming to overthrow him. Later on when Macduff arrives and fights with Macbeth, we see that though