The Free Will of Macbeth Essay - 754 Words

The Free Will of Macbeth Destiny Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved. (William Jennings Bryan) Are we in control of our own destiny, our own fate, or are our lives really already planned and mapped out for us? Does Macbeth willfully choose evil in order to achieve his destiny? Or, is his destiny doomed by the witches prophecies? Macbeth may not have made any of his same choices, if the three Weird sisters hadnt come to him. In Shakespeares play Macbeth, Macbeth is no pawn of fate. Although Macbeth was destined to become king, the path he chose to take to achieve his aspiration of obtaining the throne was of his own free†¦show more content†¦Hes 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, Macbeths 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 he had attained his destiny, Macbeth felt that Banquo would become a serious threat. He did not like the fact that Banquo was destined to be a father to a whole line of kings. Our fears in Banquo stick deep, and in his royalty of nature reigns that which would be feared...If `t be so, for Banquos issue have I filed my mind; for them the gracious Duncan have I murdered...(85). The path Macbeth chooses to take in order to stay at the throne was to have Banquo killed. But, Macbeth was never destined to kill anyone. Killing Duncan, Banquo and Macduffs whole household were all his decisions to attain his destiny. 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 choicesShow MoreRelatedExamples Of Free Will In Macbeth1015 Words   |  5 PagesIs one’s life dominated by fate or free will? Perhaps one’s future has been predetermined by some external force or perhaps one has the choice to pave their future. These ideas are further explored in the the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and the play Macbeth by Shakespeare. Things Fall Apart is about a man named Okonkwo’s struggle between the changes that arise with the arrival of white missionaries in the villages of his home in Nigeria, the conflicts that arise between the arrival ofRead MoreMacbeth: Fate vs. Free Will1718 Words   |  7 PagesFate vs. Free Will 11th of January 2013 Throughout the ages, it has been believed that fate has the power to forge one’s destiny. By some uncontrollable force, the outcome of a person’s choices is controlled by the way in which they are destined to occur. On the other hand though, some believe these choices can defy fate and that fate only manipulates ones mind into choosing their own path. One question that seemed to pop into my head through out this play was whether individuals were victims ofRead MoreMacbeth Fate And Free Will Analysis1198 Words   |  5 Pagesof fate vs free will is especially prominent in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. In Macbeth, Shakespeare pits destiny against decision throughout Macbeth’s journey towards his downfall. While Macbeth is given options and opportunities by fate throughout the play, it is his own decisions and free will that lead to his ultimate downfall, and it is this exercise of free will over fate that resonates so strongly with audiences. Shakespeare’s juxtaposition of fate and free will in Macbeth begins withRead MoreMacbeth Fate Vs Free Will2019 Words   |  9 PagesChoices The Tragedy of Macbeth William Shakespeare s haunting and ominous play The Tragedy of Macbeth offers many topics of discussion and debate about human nature such as fate versus free will. This plays a rather large role in the story. However. even though this story seems to be of a pre-destined nature everyone always has the freedom of choice and control over oneself s thoughts and actions. In this story Macbeth chose his fate. In the beginning of the play Macbeth is introduced to theRead MoreMacbeth: Fate vs Free Will Essay1208 Words   |  5 PagesFate 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 mostRead MoreFree Will in William Shakespeare ´s Macbeth836 Words   |  3 PagesThe American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language concludes that free will is the ability to act without the constraint of necessity or fate. Occasionally, we are pressured, manipulated or controlled to make certain decisions by our surroundings, which defeats the purpose o f free will. In William Shakespeare’s play the Tragedy of Macbeth, the witches’ prophecies negate Macbeth’s free will. When the witches announce their prophecies, the possibility of the predictions coming true overpowersRead More macbeth - fate or free choice Essay702 Words   |  3 Pages 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 witches also gives them control over him, which further illustrates how Macbeth’s destiny is fatedRead MoreFate Vs Free Will In Shakespeares Macbeth1260 Words   |  6 PagesRegarding â€Å"real world† scenarios, the â€Å"fate vs. free will† debate has long been disputed, but humanity has never come to a verdict on whether human actions are determined by fate or free will. Shakespeare’s Macbeth involves aspects like equivocation and supernatural forces to build on this idea and its pertinence to Macbeth’s tragic downfall. Macbeth is presented with three central prophecies from the witches concerning his seemingly royal destiny at the beginning of the play and again near theRead MoreDoes Macbeth Have Free-Will? Essay2056 Words   |  9 PagesThroughout 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. Within the play, Macbeth is influenced by many: the witches; his wife, Lady Macbeth; possibly Hecate, GoddessRead More Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Macbeth - Fates Triumph3045 Words   |  13 PagesFates Triumph in Macbeth       Shakespeare a fatalist in Macbeth? It would seem so, given the observation that the Macbeths capitulated totally to the evil suggestions of the witches. We shall clarify the concept of fate in this drama.    Blanche Coles states in Shakespeares Four Giants the place of Fate in Macbeths life:    Then, like a cog slipping naturally into its own notch, his thoughts turn to the Witches and their prophecy, and he concludes that he has defiled his mind