The dog ate my homework. The devil made me do it. He forced me to eat that apple. These commonly made excuses that people have been uttering since the dawn of time. A recurring excuse among the pages of Macbeth is the question on whether or not he had a choice in his fate. Fate is the universal principle or ultimate agency by which the order of things is presumably prescribed (Dictionary.com). Macbeth relies on his fate to determine his next step in life and is easily influenced by those around him. Macbeth relies on the prophecies of three sister witches to unfold the course of his own fate. Even the choices that Macbeth made were predetermined by the circumstances around him. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, fate plays an important role in the I say people who believe that they cannot change fate lack the knowledge and wisdom to understand what life and reality are” (Chang). The fate of the characters in this fable was predicted from a prophecy told by the three sister witches. These witches, however had the most impact on Macbeth. Macbeth heard the prophecy of the weird sisters that he was to be king and immediately began to plan the murder of the present king. It was clear that being king was something that Macbeth desired, and would do anything to achieve it. It became impossible to tell if Macbeth becoming King was as a result of fate, because he took the matters into his own hands. Macbeth and his wife planned out the actions necessary for Macbeth to become king. Within in the first act of Macbeth, the three sister witches speak these words to Macbeth, “ First Witch: All hail, Macbeth, Thane of Glamis! Second Witch: All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! Third Witch: All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (Shakespeare). The witches reveal to Macbeth his fate and therefore influence his decision in the murdering of King Macduff was a brave knight from Scotland who stood up to King Macbeth in hopes to defend his country and his family. When Macbeth first learns of the suspicions of Macduff, he orders the murder of his entire family. This, however, does not stop Macduff in his plot to overthrow the king and save his country. He flees to England, where he will gather the troops to over power the murderous king. While Macduff is off planning his revenge, Macbeth is back in Scotland requiring the help of the three sister witches to secure his safety. These witches relay a prophecy of Macbeth’s fate, they say, “Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth (Shakespeare). This message gives Macbeth false hope due to the fact that Macduff was removed from his mother in an unnatural way and not of a woman. Macduff is the ending to this fable after he successfully kills Macbeth and ends his fate to protect himself and the people of
Throughout the story Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth seemed to just be a victim of “fate”. But, in the end it was clear that his character gained power over that “fate”, at least he gained power over
Fate vs Free Will is one of the most oft used literary techniques in writing. It is never more evident than in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. The major theme of the story Macbeth is whether or not the story is fueled by the free will of Macbeth, or by his fate. Are the events in Macbeth a result of his mentality and outlook on life, or were they going to happen no matter what? Almost every major event that takes place can be traced back to this question. It can be viewed in different ways, and most people have their own opinions. Dissecting this question is a part of what makes teaching Macbeth still have so much value to this day. But there is a clear answer to this question upon further dissection. The story of Macbeth is fueled by his free will, which he perceives to be a necessary part of achieving his fate.
They tell him that "no one born of a woman shall harm Macbeth. " The witches are being sneaky here to give Macbeth the illusion that he cannot be harmed. Macduff eventually kills Macduff. Does Macduff, who is not born of a woman, (his mother passed before he was born) kill Macbeth because of fate?
When the witches told Macbeth that no man born of a woman could harm him, he would not be defeated until the forest came to his castle, and that his only threat was Macduff, Macbeth felt very secure about his kingship. Little did Macbeth know, that all of these foretellings would bring about his demise. Macduff was born out of a dead woman, so he was the only one who could hurt Macbeth. When Malcolm's army attacked Macbeth's castle, they camouflaged themselves with trees, thus giving the appearance of the forest coming to the castle. Finally, Macduff was the only thing that Macbeth had to worry about, because he was not born of a woman, and could kill Macbeth. Macbeth completely disregarded the Witches' prophecies because he thought of them as rubbish. Had the three witches told Macbeth the real truth that they ticked him out of believing, Macbeth would not have gotten so cocky as a result of his security.
All hail, Macbeth. Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth. Hail to thee, thane Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth.
Macbeth is not a victim of fate, but he is a victim of his own choices and the power of suggestion. Macbeth on multiple occasions chooses evil over good, and these decisions lead to his circumstances. Macbeth is not a victim of fate, but an ambitious man who makes poor decisions that have terrible results for him.
The effect fate has first appears in Macbeth when Lady Macbeth receives the witches’ letter telling of a prophecy. This prophecy reveals that Macbeth will seize the crown, and
Macduff was the first to openly defy Macbeth by his decision to go to his castle in Fife rather than Macbeth’s coronation in “Scone” (2.4). Macduff flees to England to rally support and revolt against Macbeth (4.3). Macduff acts on his free will, uninfluenced by the power of Macbeth nor others, and does what he believes to be the best for himself and everyone else. He retains his independent thoughts and his sense of masculinity despite the consequences he might suffer, standing his grounds with his beliefs and ideology of being a true patriot. Later on, upon hearing the news of his family’s murder, Macduff shows his sensitivity: “I shall [disput it like a man], but I must also feel it like a man” (4.3). He depicts the ability to have emotions and link it to his masculinity as a part of human traits, embracing his weaknesses and flaws and showing that he also acts as he believes he should act. The sharp contrast between Macbeth’s cowardly actions and Macduff’s strong will is shown at the final battle between the two; Macbeth refuses to fight with Macduff when Macbeth learns Macduff is that one person in the prophecy that would defeat Macbeth until Macduff threatens to capture him alive and humiliates him in front of the crowd (5.8).Once again, Macbeth masculinity is threatened, and he gives in to the threat rather than stand his ground, leading to his ultimate demise. Macduff’s
In the context of the fictional story of Macbeth, it is hard to argue that fate was not controlling his life and actions. Many prophecies were made that seemed impossible at first, but each one came true and things happened as expected, though maybe not in the exact way or at the exact time that they were thought to. It is pretty clear throughout the narrative that the concept of fate prevails in the context of Macbeth, but once these beliefs are placed into the realm of the real world, there is a lot more room for argument. Things in real life are less certain, and there are many variables that can affect a person’s opinion on this matter. Ultimately, it comes down to a personal decision that everyone exercises their freedom of choice on to establish what they believe.
Macbeth’s choice to put his trust in the witches, rather than take heed like Banquo, leads to his own destruction. Macbeth first encounters the three witches after his victory over the Norwegians. When Macbeth passes the three witches on the road, the greet him with, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!” All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (I,iii,49-51). Macbeth doubts these claims until Ross and Angus soon tell him of his newly acquired title, the Thane of Cawdor. He starts to believe the sisters to be true and that he just might become king. Macbeth jumps to the conclusion that the three sisters are of the supernatural and decides to trust them. He does so despite Banquo’s warning, “ But ’tis strange. And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray ’s in deepest consequence...
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
... truly seen as a character when he discovers the just previously murdered Duncan. He shows utter shock at the sight of the deceased Duncan and is first to question Macbeth about the suspicious act, including the death of the servants. Macduff provides Macbeth with paranoia that is evident through the rest of the play and Macduff continues to show his loyalty to Duncan even after the murder by making it his goal to ensure the rightful king is crowned. Macbeth is told by the witches to beware of Macduff, but also that he may not be harmed by anyone “born of woman”. Macduff is therefore destined to slay Macbeth and end the conflict that Macbeth has created with his ambition as his was “untimely ripped” from his mother’s womb. The heroic Macduff through bravery and fate is able to withstand the prophecy and kill Macbeth honoring his family, morals and all of Scotland.
Macbeth’s blind ambition leads him to surrender to his dark desires that taunt him throughout the play. Macbeth is frequently tempted to result to the wrongful methods that seem to roam inside of him. In the beginning however Macbeth tends to ignore these desires and depends on chance. He declares “if chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, without my stir” (Shakespeare, act 1, scene 3, 143-144). This declaration by Macbeth shows his initial stand, which is reliant on fate and sin free. Yet as Macbeth’s character develops throughout the play, he moves farther from his dependence on chance and closer to his darker desires. Eventually his blind ambition to become king overp...
The witches do not force him to kill Duncan, but they do plant the idea is his head. After murdering Duncan, Macbeth made the decision to murder the guards, making Macduff suspicious of him. He also chooses to kill Banquo, and Macduff’s family. His actions are the reason that his life ended in the way that it did. At the beginning of his moral conflict he says in an aside “If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me without my stir” (1. 3. 143-144). Macbeth is thinking to himself that if he is meant to be king by fate, he should just sit back and let it happen. He does not want to betray his king. After some careful thought, Macbeth chooses to take matters into his own hands by murdering the king. He was not influenced by the witches when he makes the decision to have Macduff’s family murdered. In an attempt to scare Macduff and show that he does not fear the Thane of Fife, Macbeth seals his own fate and ensures his death. Shortly after the death of his children and wife, Macduff returns to Scotland for revenge.
When you dart to do it, then you are a man,' (Macbeth, Shakespeare Act 1 Scene 7). Lady Macbeth's constant harassment pushed Macbeth and made him commit all this evil. When you reason things out by yourself, you tend to know what is right and what is wrong, a conscience. But with the outside influence from the witches, he thinks that that is his destiny and he must do everything to fulfill it. One can wonder if Macbeth ever had a chance of doing what was right after he met the witches.