Does fate play a role in all the bad events that occurred in Macbeth? Did those events happen because of an uncontrollable force, or are the characters responsible for causing them. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the three central characters bear responsibility for the tragic deeds. Lady Macbeth, the wife of Macbeth, Macduff, Thane of Fife, and Macbeth, the hero, all play a role in all the tragic events that occurred in the play. Firstly, Lady Macbeth is responsible for numerous mishaps. For example, she declares that Duncan will die, and tells Macbeth to kill him. She was behind Macbeth’s image on the day of Duncan’s visit at their castle. To continue, she told him that his face“ is a book where men, May read strange matters,” she advises …show more content…
For instance, Macduff tells Ross, “No cousin, I will to Fife,” (II, vi, 36-37). He does not go to Macbeth’s crowning of King in Scone, instead he goes to Fife, which begins to make Macbeth suspicious. Moreover, since Macduff was already suspicious of Macbeth’s sudden success and capabilities, he should already know that Macbeth does not hesitate in killing anyone who gets in his way. With that in mind, Macduff is responsible for his wife and son’s murder because he was not aware that Macbeth has eyes everywhere. To add on, Lennox finds out that Macduff has fled to England, and is plotting with the King of England, as well as Malcom to have a war against Macbeth. Lennox tells Macbeth of the news, and Macbeth says “seize upon Fife, give to th’edge...where they are,” (IV, i, l. 158-164), he declares to ruin and kill anything that matters to Macduff. Thus, results in the death of his beloved wife and son. Macduff played a role in the death of his own family, the destruction of his castle, and the war erupting between Scotland and England. However, Macbeth’s decisions resulted in his own downfall as well as the lives of
Lady Macbeth played a large role as Macbeth’s seductress and brainwasher. Lady Macbeth persuaded her husband to kill the King not so that he would himself be King but so that she could be Queen.Although because of her involvement in this web of lies she felt guilty and drove herself insane worrying about what had happened and what would happen to her and her husband for being so dishonest. She was not responsible for the tragedy, she was only a manipulative factor in the scheme of things. Even though it does take two to tango, Macbeth tangoed on his own.
Macduff’s burning desire for revenge towards Macbeth was encouraged by many forces. As it is known, Macbeth murders Duncan which causes Malcolm to flee to England because he fears for his life. Following Duncan’s death, Macduff was the first to discover Duncan dead, and it can be inferred that he was so angry and mortified that it sparks apprehensiveness towards Macbeth’s acquiring the throne. As he realizes that he does not agree with Macbeth’s reign, he decides to leave his family behind in Fife to go to England to find Malcolm, the true heir to the throne. His plan is to conspire with Malcolm to build an army against Macbeth. Macduff was so loyal to Scotland and the true ruler that he was willing to abandon his family in the process of freeing Scotland from tyranny. As he meets with Malcolm, Ross delivers the news that
In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, changes happen. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a well liked and good man of Scotland, who turns into an evil, cold hearted, murderer by the end. His rewards and punishments could have been predetermined by fate, but the actions he took to get to get those rewards and punishments were determined by Macbeth’s free will. In Macbeth, he attempts to control the future and hide the past by listening to other people and committing multiple murders of innocent people.
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 life, many of us will find ourselves in some of the worst situations that leave us wondering who’s to blame. The truth is that the misfortunes that befall us are due to our own actions and sometimes due to fate or bad luck. Fate is one person's destiny and it can not be understood by simple mortals but a greater power beyond human comprehension. Fate is so powerful that it can control a person's outcome on life before it happens. Many people tend to become victims of fate in which they catch a glimpse of what their future is going to look like, but do not totally take hold of the outcome. Macbeth can not fully realize the possible outcome of his fate because he is human, and therefore is a victim to his power driven
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.
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.
Fate is one person's destiny, it cannot be understood by mere mortals but a greater power beyond human comprehension. Fate is so powerful that it controls a person's outcome on life before it happens. Many people become victims of fate in which they catch a glimpse of what their future is going to look like, but do not totally grasp the outcome. Macbeth cannot fully comprehend the possible outcome of his fate because he is mortal, and therefore is a victim to his power driven quest and his ultimate fate. Many have been said to agree with this statement. For example, as stated in Shakespeare A to Z, "The Witches are an enactment of the irrational. The supernatural world if terrifying because it is beyond human control, and in the play it is
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.
As Macbeth learnt about the prophecies from the witches. They predict that he will the king but also predict that Malcom the son of King Duncan will become the prince of Cumberland. Feeling uneasy about this Macbeth lets his wife Lady Macbeth know and urges Macbeth to kill Duncan. He let his wife, Lady Macbeth, into persuading him into killing King Duncan. Macbeth then became a murderer and soon came to lose his mind. He began to change into something so evil that he couldn't find his way back into heroic warrior that he was. He started to become weary of his surroundings and dependent towards the witches. Macduff was not as caught up in love as Macbeth, he left his family to help his nation. Macduff clues in about how Macbeth is a murderers and flees to England to seek military aid from the English Kind Edward to overthrow Macbeth. Unwisely Macduff left his wife and children behind and enraged Macbeth sends murderers to Macduff’s castle to slaughter Macduff’s entire family. After his wife and children are killed, Macduff is flailing around blames himself and states, “all my pretty ones? All my pretty chickens and their dam/ at one fell swoop?” (Act 4, Scene
Macbeth has many themes such as tyranny, ambition, and destiny that are essential to understand the the play. They are all intertwined and affect the other themes, but arguably the most important theme is of fate. Shakespeare's Macbeth makes viewers ponder their view on fate to interpret the story. Shakespeare asks the audience if fate exists at all and how it affects the events that unfold in his story. The answer of whether fate exists or not and how so is never stated. It is purposely left open for interpretation in any way the viewer pleases. Despite the lack of answer, the answer itself is implied and impacts Macbeth and its meaning. That answer is that Macbeth’s destiny is controlled by fate, but fate has no control over how he achieves
In Macbeth, Shakespeare presents the tale of an ambitious Scottish nobleman, that will stop at nothing to ensure his position as the king. Throughout the play, Shakespeare presents the power fate has on a person through Macbeth and Banquo, two characters who´s fates are determined by witches from the beginning.
Macduff knew that Lady Macbeth and Macbeth were the ones planning on killing King Duncan and taking over the throne. Macbeth wasn’t the main pursuer of this, more like Lady Macbeth encouraging him to do this. The Lady Macbeth planned it all out and Macbeth was the one that would be taking the rack for it. Lady Macduff did not know what was happening as her husband Macduff left her and her son without saying good bye or giving any reasons why. Starting to put together what has happened to Macduff, Lady Macduff explains to Sirrah (Son) what has happened to his father, “Sirrah, your father's dead;
The idea of fate is a strange concept. No matter what decisions you make, it will always have the same outcome. It is hard to grasp, and if Macbeth had been given a different destiny by the three witches, then he might have reacted in a different and more frantic manner.
Many people believe in ‘Fate’, and argue over the role of ‘Fate’ in everyday life. Does Fate control us, or are we masters of our own fate? Many people have wondered over this question for decades, centuries even. In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Shakespeare tries to shed a light on the answer. Are Macbeth’s actions predetermined, or are they his own choice?