Macbeth Fate Vs Free Will Essay

Lady Macbeth challenges Macbeth’s masculinity by stating that Macbeth is not a man if he does not carry on the murder. Lady Macbeth demonstrates strong pathos because she targets Macbeth’s ego. This proves effectiveness because when a male’s ego is challenged his testosterone kicks in, so in Macbeth’s case, he feels obligated to assert his dominance over his wife. To further elaborate, when Lady Macbeth says “when you durst do it, then you were a man” she demonstrates subconscious, but powerful use of rhetoric because it is Lady

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

Throughout the story of Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, Macbeth acts in a much despised manner: he becomes a murderer and later, when king of Scotland, a tyrant. Many who have read or seen the play are left wondering how a man’s whole approach to life can change; how Macbeth turned from the hero whom all adored, to the tyrant who was hated and ended up a lone man, fighting for his life.

In Shakespeare’s Tragedy Macbeth, it is very debatable if fate, or freewill is what causes Macbeth to do the things he does through out the tragedy. Freewill is at work most through out the tragedy because Macbeth is convinced he can change or speed up the fate the three weird sisters prophesized for him at his own will. Throughout the play, Macbeth slowly begins to think he can modify his fate by using the prophecies told to Macbeth by the weird sisters and attempting to change them by his free will.

Macbeth was also affected by Lady Macbeth when she questions his manhood in, “When you durst do it, then you were a man// Be so much the man.” For a male at the time, to be questioned of their masculinity was the ultimate insult, especially from a woman. This emotional blackmail device from Lady Macbeth clearly worked, because Lady Macbeth was able to take full control of Macbeth hereafter. In the same manner that Lady Macbeth goads her husband, Macbeth then provokes the murderers by questioning their manhood, “Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men”. Both of these acts show that both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth equate masculinity with naked aggression, and whenever they converse about manhood, violence soon follows. Their understanding of manhood allows the political order depicted in the play to descend into chaos.

In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, there is a question as to whether or not Macbeth is driven by fate or free will. The three weird sisters approach Macbeth with prophecies that will all come true in the end. It would appear that Macbeth is just following destiny at first. However, Macbeth always had a choice throughout the play to choose his own fate. Macbeth journeyed to his murderous doom through his own free choice.

During Duncan’s visit to Macbeths home he begins to change his mind about the deed, “We will proceed no further in this business.”(W.S. 41) But Lady Macbeth does anything to keep him from evading the task, “Art though afeard to be the same in thine own act and valor As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life And live a coward in thine own esteem.”(W.S. 41) Lady Macbeth encouraged Macbeth to kill which made Macbeths mindset to continue on with the

Fate is our future. I believe in fate and that our life is decided even before we are born. In Macbeth, though, Macbeth's fate was not determined of him becoming king. By hearing the witches prophesying about him being king, he wanted it so badly that he made things happen to become king. “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none: So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo (Shakespeare 11)!” At the beginning of this scene the witches were talking and then Macbeth and Banquo appeared. The witches told Macbeth that he would become king. Macbeth doubted it at first and thought that it could never be true, but started to think of how nice it would be to be king. Then he got it engraved in his head that he would and went into action to do it. Ross

Many would say that fate and free will are two opposing ideas. Though from a philosophical standpoint, they could be the same thing. Maybe free will has an affect on fate, or fate on free will. Or perhaps, everything is a self-fulfilling prophecy, where one believes in free will and acts accordingly, only to fulfill his own fate. In reality, anything that occurs could be considered fate, and not a result of free will, despite that only free will has tangible evidence of causation; choices made.

Macbeth displays his irreverent attitude toward fortune when he attempts to seize the kingship from Duncan, rather than allowing fortune to take its own course. He says that people will not suspect that he killed Duncan “When we have marked with blood those two of his own chamber and used their very daggers” (1.7. 82-83). According to this quotation, Macbeth plans to blame Duncan’s murder on the guards of the chamber. This course of action is rash and dangerous, as it would be very difficult for one to murder the king and successfully frame the guards when other nobles are on the premises and able to inspect the crime scene. But, driven by his desire to seize his fate, Macbeth follows through with such a dangerous plan, regardless of its possible repercussions. Unfortunately for Macbeth, his rash actions have negative consequences. When he attempts to clarify the events of the murder, his explanation is met with some skepticism, especially from Macduff. Macbeth’s shady explanation of the murder sparks doubt within some of the nobles. This initial doubt is what eventually blossoms into full-blown rebellion against the tyrannical Macbeth. Hence, Macbeth’s inane murder constitutes a rash action upon his fate, an action that eventually leads to his fall from power and death. Macbeth continues to act upon and challenge fate when he remembers that Banquo’s children are also destined to claim the throne. He realizes, “No son of mine succeeding. If’t be so, / For Banquo’s issue I have filed my mind” (3.1. 68-69) and says, “Rather than so, come fate into the list, and champion me to th’utterance” (3.1. 74-75). In this quotation, Macbeth acknowledges that with “no son of mine succeeding,” he has essentially

He's here in double trust: first as I his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed; then as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself (39)...We will proceed no further in this business"(41). Yet, Macbeth's desire to become king overrides his feelings for Duncan as he continues to do such evil. Macbeth believes that he can only fix his wrongs with more wrongs, therefore he was, in fact, acting on his own volition. "Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill"(95).

After thinking over the plan to kill Duncan, he realizes that it would be very immoral to murder his king. Macbeth begins thinking of his responsibilities as Duncan’s subject and host “who should against his murderer shut the door, / Not bear the knife [himself]” (Macbeth 1.7.15-16). As Macbeth rejects the idea of murdering Duncan, Lady Macbeth’s desire for the crown seems to grow; she begins to doubt Macbeth’s ambition to become a great king, so Lady Macbeth attacks Macbeth’s masculinity to provoke Macbeth enough to murder Duncan. Implying that he is not yet a man, Lady Macbeth says, “When you durst do it, then you were a man” (Macbeth 1.7.56).

'As a result of Macbeth's unpredictable actions and thoughts the audience's perception of Macbeth changes a great deal throughout theses scenes. Shakespeare gives us a clear insight into how the witches' prophecies have consumed Macbeth, but also how ambition and power, two major themes of the play, affect human nature and corrupt a once loyal, highly respected and trusted nobleman. In the earlier scenes Shakespeare allows Macbeth to debate whether he should murder King Duncan thereby showing the audience that he still has a conscience. Macbeth understands that as Duncan's "kinsman" and "subject" he has no moral basis for regicide.

Throughout this tragic play by Shakespeare, Macbeth is faced with the question of fate or free will. While fate is a force or power that predetermines events, free will is the ability to decide actions according to oneself (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Throughout the play, Macbeth’s choices were influenced by many other characters which in turn alter his future. In the opening of the play, there were the 3 witches who sparked his initial interest to become King. Then came Lady Macbeth who, by telling him her opinion and persuading him, gave him the idea to kill King Duncan. But in the end it was his own ambition which resulted in his death, because as the play progressed Macbeth’s character took a drastic turn from good to evil. Even though the witches and Lady Macbeth also played a great role in his decisions, they didn 't force him to commit any of the crimes, and so ultimately it was his own choices that led to his downfall.

Fate has sundry meanings. One of the meanings of fate: power that predetermines events. Destiny’s definition suggests that events will occur and do not change. Whatever unravels in life cannot change by mankind. The statement has undivulged meanings; fate has the opportunity to change if the person wants events to end differently. However, wrong decisions will only seal fate. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, The fate becomes confirmed through Lady Macbeth wanting more power, Macbeth’s inner conflict, and the three witches tricking Macbeth and leading him to his demise.