In Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth, Macbeth was a victim of both free will and fate. One was not more predominant than the other. It seemed as if Macbeth was just following his destiny at first, but he had a chance to change his fate. It was his lust for power that leads him to doom through his own free will. In Act I, the three witches visit Macbeth and Banquo on the heath.
The witches make three predictions; past, present, future. Macbeth is Thane Of Glam is, he will be the Thane of Cawdor, and then he will become King, and Banquo’s sons will become king but not Banquo. Later in the same scene, Ross and Angus meet Macbeth. They tell Macbeth that he is now the Thane of Cawdor by Duncan’s command. Almost immediately after the witches have visited him, Macbeth begins to make their prophecies a reality.
He is almost trying to fulfill the tempting predictions, now that his mind is lust-filled for power, instead of remaining loyal to the King. It is not without the help of his wife, though. In (I, vii, 52-64 she said, “What beast was’t, then, That made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man; And, to be more than what you were, you would Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place Did then adhere, and yet you would make both: They have made themselves, and that their fitness now Does unmake you. I have given suck, and know How tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums And dash’d the brains out, had I so sworn as you Have done to this. Lady Macbeth calls Macbeth manhood into question.
The Term Paper on Macbeth King Play Iii
... Banquo helped Macbeth murder the king. Many critics believe that Shakespeare changed Banquo's role to please King James...THE WITCHES The three witches that Macbeth and Banquo ... images of divine grace and natural order... DUNCAN The King makes his final exit before the end of Act ... lines 61-62).After the prediction that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor comes true, Banquo is more cautious. He warns ...
She said that if she had promised she would have bashed the head in of the newborn she was caring for. This helps to weaken Macbeth’s mind into submission. Was it fate or free will that led Macbeth to his own demise? Fate can only take one so far, but when you get to that current location it is up to the person to take it from there. Macbeth had a world of choices he could have made.
The witches predicted that he would be king, but not at the cost it would take. Macbeth feels that when he is going to go kill Duncan that the dagger led him to his room. “Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.” (II, i, 41-42).
It is impossible for the dagger to have actually led him to Duncan’s room. Macbeth made excuses, he knew in his subconscious he wanted this to be done, but not to be stricken ed with grief.
Fate had brought Duncan to his castle. Free will brought Macbeth with a dagger. Macbeth had a chance to turn back, nothing had been written in stone just yet until he uttered this, “I go, and it is done; the bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell That summons thee to heaven or to hell.” (II, i, 70-72).
He had killed the king to fulfill his lust-filled greed. That was the works of free will.
The witches never foretold of what he had to do to become king, Macbeth chose that for himself. What are the odds that the witches new where exactly to meet him and how to corrupt him in Act 1 Scene 3? It was 1 to 1 odds. It was inevitable; it was fate that the witches would be there on the heath as Macbeth was passing with Banquo. It is almost as if his days of end were starting right there before him; his nail in the cross to say in a way.
They were there for a reason. To corrupt his soul for whatever wicked purpose they found fit. Later on in the play the witches return and show him these apparitions with tales of warning. The first apparition says, “Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff; Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me.
Enough” (IV, i, 78-79).
Then the witches show him the second apparition, he states “Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth. (IV, i, 87-89).
The Essay on Macbeth Fate Or Free Choice
Macbeth - Fate or Free Choice? In Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth's destiny is determined by the choices he makes. The first hint to the reader of Macbeth's choices comes as a warning from Banquo to Macbeth about believing the witches, or Weird Sisters. Once Macbeth starts to believe the witches, this belief facilitates his decisions to take certain actions. Macbeth's choice to believe the ...
This comes into effect later on in the play when he meets Macduff in battle. Macbeth boasts, “Thou losest labour: As easy mayst thou the in trenchant air. With thy keen sword impress as make me bleed: Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests; I bear a charmed life, which must not yield, To one of woman born.” (5, viii, 11-16).
He merely states that no one born of woman can kill him. Though, to everyone’s surprise Macbeth reveals a startling secret, “Despair thy charm; And let the angel whom thou still hast served Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother’s womb Untimely ripp’d.” (5, viii, 17-20).
Macduff had not been born of a woman, he had been cut out and removed. Instantly Macbeth yields to Macduff for he knows that he will fall if he fights, but must press on anyway. Macbeth had assumed too much from the second apparition’s prediction. Even after the apparitions warnings that Macbeth chose to misinterpret and ignore, he meets the fate.
It was fate that he would Macduff would be the one not bore of woman due to the the first apparitions prediction. And it was fate that Macbeth would meet his end at the hands of Macduff. Macbeth’s downfall was created through his own actions. The witches did a small part in fueling the fire, but never directly put him into any situation to cause him to commit murder. His lust for power was more than enough to drive him into that frenzy. Which would, by definition, make him a victim of free will.
Though, wouldn’t it that just be one of the many fates he seem cast upon himself? Free will and fate work hand and hand together. Instead of saying free will vs. fate, it should say free will and fate. It’s a never-ending circle that doesn’t break. Fate presents a path clearly, while free will causes the same path to be discovered. It was inevitable that he would meet the witches.
Macbeth had a chance to do what’s right, lost it, and in the after life he will have to atone for his sins.
