William Shakespeare 's Macbeth - The Three Weird Sisters

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 play, Macbeth proves that there is a destiny, it just a matter of how one chooses to attain it. Destiny is a thing to be achieved, through choices. Fate has no bearing over what choices are made. Yet, Macbeth may not have made the same choices

Macbeth was an honorable hero. But then he went and followed ambition too far and killed people that wasn’t even close to his prophecy. Fate did not lead him to do this. There are several occurrences of fate in William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. Macbeth acts on free will instead of fate throughout the entire play.

People often wonder if they are given a fate or if they have free will to live their life however they want? There’s a lot of different stories and examples where the characters either have fate or free will. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, several events involving the witches, Banquo, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth show evidence that they are given their fate but have the power to fulfill it or not.

In Shakespeare’s The Tempest, there is a foul witch named Sycorax who can control the elements, the moon, and weather. Common folk had the idea that witches could in fact manipulate the weather and other elements. Perhaps the largest superstition involving one of Shakespeare’s plays is Macbeth. Simply uttering the word inside of a theatre is believed to result in extreme bad luck. The “Curse of Macbeth” is referred to when something misfortunate happens during the production of a play. If someone must refer to that play they will usually call it ‘The Scottish Play” or ‘The Bard’s Play”. One theory of the origin of this superstition is that Shakespeare included actual black magic spells into Macbeth during the three witches’ dialogue. According to folklore, the play’s history of bad luck began with its first performance when the actor who played Lady Macbeth died suddenly, and Shakespeare had to take his place. Throughout history there have been “accidental” stabbings, stage battles that became realistic, and discordant riots from the audience all while during performances of Macbeth. There are even cleansing rituals one must perform if they accidently say “Macbeth” in a theatre. One of the more common cleansing rituals is that a person has to leave the building, spit, curse, and spin around three times before they beg to be allowed back inside.

The concept of fate involves the development of certain events through destiny, beyond an individual’s control and depended upon by individuals within their life choices. Though this particular concept is kept in mind by many, some individuals interpret fate as only the manipulation of the mind in making their choices. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the prominent theme fate vs. free will is recognized and is significant as each character follows through with their own destiny. This theme is recognized through Macbeth as he follows through with his desires for success as he strives for power and the ultimate authority.     The significant concept of fate is first recognized through the appearance of the witches, it is then where Macbeth receives the idea of fate and the excellent label it presents.

From the very moment Macbeth is introduced to the witches and is told his prophecies, he begins to contemplate and attempt to master his given fate, which he later realizes cannot be done. Macbeth receives his chosen destiny when he is told be the witches that he will continue as Thane of Glamis, soon become Thane of Cawdor, and, “[...] that shalt be king hereafter!” (I.iii.50). Fate shows to have already existed as these prophecies eventually prove to come true, even as Macbeth hurries them along. Furthermore, Macbeth realizes there could be truth to his fate as he exclaims, “If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, without my stir” (I.iii.154-155), indicating it has predicted to come true for him. Through these actions, fate demonstrates how it already exists in Macbeth's life and establishes the fact that it rules him.

Instead, their prophecy coupled with his greed and desire for power, shaped Macbeth’s actions. Even though they can see the future, their prophecies influence people’s actions, including Macbeth, to achieve what was shown. They also instigated Macbeth’s obsession with his fate and his desire to reign unimpeded by fate and anyone else as well as contributing to his subsequent actions to achieve his destiny. Therefore, through the witches and fate, Macbeth is drawn into the net of fate, meaning that his actions were not his own, but were influenced by the witches and

William Shakespeare’s tale Macbeth is one teeming with questions regarding fate, particularly with whether it is the driving factor behind events or if it is simply a contraption residing within the human mind. In Macbeth, Shakespeare posed the question through the actions of three witches who encounter Macbeth and prophesied his future. They tell Macbeth, who is at this point the Thane of Glamis, that is he is to become the Thane of Cawdor and then the King and that Banquo is to be the father of kings despite not being a king himself. Through Macbeth’s response to the witches, the accuracy of the prophecies and the role of Lady Macbeth, one can come to the conclusion that the events that occurred could not have happened independently so they

Was Macbeth’s fate chained to the prophecy that is destiny or did he have free will? Throughout The Tragedy of Macbeth, Shakespeare utilizes the battle between free will and destiny to make the reader question what the cause of Macbeth’s triumphs and ultimate demise was. Fate may come about in life, but it is ultimately up to a person’s own free will to make their own decisions. Macbeth’s fate in the play is determined by his own free will.

The story of Macbeth has impacted people from the day it was first performed. For many, it leaves a psychological impact, as shown in Benedict Carey’s article “Lady Macbeth is not Alone in her Quest for Spotlessness”. However, others insist the play is cursed. In Patrick Bernauw’s article, “Unexplained Mysteries: The Curse of Macbeth”, the terrible physical implications of Macbeth are explored. Whether the show leaves it’s performers with an actual curse, as in Bernauw’s article, or examines the actions of people who have done wrong, like in Carey’s article, both show the significance that Macbeth leaves with others.

The Macbeth Curse has strange origins. It is often claimed to be due to the three witches in the play itself. Frequently, people believe that the spells the witches in the play cast are real spells which may lead to disaster. According to the superstition, Shakespeare may have gotten a few of the lines from actual witches, who cursed the play when they found out. Some of the people who believe in the superstition of the spells also believe real witches should be chosen to act the roles.

Superstitions have made the habit of influencing how man has come to shape the world and society. This is no different from Macbeth’s time where religion and superstition were a staple in social behavior; a good and bad existed followed by the possibility of the supernatural. The witches in Macbeth are so mystifying since their first appearance in Act 1, leaving the reader with the perplexity of “what normal truly is”. Though Macbeth served and fought as one of the most trustworthy and honorable generals serving King Duncan., Macbeth was easily influenced by the supernatural appearances throughout the entire play, these beliefs made him contemplate and carry out insidious actions in order to gain the throne and protect himself.

Whether or not the weird sisters play an important role in the play as well as whether or not Macbeth’s ambition would have led to disastrous action will be argued. The play begins with the “weird sisters” chanting spells and making plans to meet with Macbeth, before Macbeth is even aware that they exist, which already indicates that they are important within Macbeth. One sees that a spiritual connection between the witches and Macbeth is present when the “weird sisters” mention that “fair is foul, and foul is fair”, and not much later when in conversation with Banquo, Macbeth states that he has never seen a day “so foul and fair”. As one progresses further into this scene, “brave Macbeth” and Banquo come into contact with “the instruments of darkness”. It is during this interaction that the witches introduce Macbeth to their evil “power”.

The three witches in Shakespeare’s Macbeth are, as described by Banquo, the witches do not look human “That look not like th’ inhabitants o’ th’earth (Act 1 Scene 3)”, these witches are also “withered, and wild in their attire (line 40).” I will achieve the idea of them being unhuman in appearance by using the Ben Nye wax to wax to add a large bump to my nose. I will conceptualize this piece by placing it in the mid- 1300s England. I will use this time period to help enhance the character of the First Witch, by making her infected with the Bubonic Plague. The reason she is infected with the plague, is while she was trying to collect the tail of rat for one of her potions, the rat, which was infected with the plague, bit her. In order to achieve the look of truly unhuman like face, I am going to begin by mixing a white crème with the lightest foundation color all over the face, this is because it will help me to achieve the look of a sick person.