An American author, Tony Robbins, once said “It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped”. Robbins expresses the idea of fate being self-determined. The idea of fate changes one's perception and what one deems right. Similar to Robbins' ideology, Shakespeare demonstrates ideas of false fate in his work. In Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, he uses supernatural elements to portray how people justify their actions by blaming their predetermined fate, as their actions ultimately determine their fate rather than supernatural forces. Macbeth demonstrates the idea of self-determined fate by choosing the severity of his actions to fulfill the witches' prophecy. Macbeth’s ambition to become king intensifies after the witches confirm his …show more content…
As she sleepwalks, she realizes she cannot shake the guilt of killing Duncan off of her hands. She feels she's responsible for Macbeth’s actions and shameful for what she’s encouraged. Lady Macbeth announces “What, will these hands ne'er be clean?--No more o' that, my lord, no more o' that: you mar all with this starting” (Shakespeare 5:1). Lady Macbeth’s belief that washing her hands will cleanse her of her guilt demonstrates her flawed understanding of the predetermined fate and the witches prophecy. Her support for her husband's actions makes her liable for his murders and she begins to understand the wrongness of his actions. She wants the best but understands that it is achievable in other ways. Similarly, the witches tell Macbeth about his fate and future events. The witches' vague interpretation of Macbeth's fate creates greater ambition to protect his throne. The witches explain three apparitions that ultimately lead Macbeth to kill others and eventually give up his throne. The first apparition is to “beware Macduff; Beware the Thane of Fife” (Shakespeare 4:1). This means that Macduff could harm Macbeth or potentially take his position as king. Macbeth believed that the only way to get rid of this threat was to have Macduff’s wife and children murdered. He later realizes that his actions are far more violent than what the witches imply. The second apparition describes Macbeth’s belief that he is immortal, the witches explain "none of women born Shall harm Macbeth. " (Shakespeare 4:1) The witches provide ambiguity to this apparition and Macbeth is blind to other interpretations. Macbeth believes he can not be killed by any man for every man is born from a woman. However, he does not take into account the other forms of childbirth. The witches provide dramatic irony because the witches demonstrate
English 12 2/27/2023 William Shakespeare's Macbeth is a tragic play that explores the themes of ambition, guilt, and the consequences of one's actions. The main character, Macbeth, is a tragic hero whose ambition leads him to commit heinous crimes, which ultimately lead to his downfall. Throughout the play, Macbeth attempts to control the future and bury the past in various ways, which ultimately contribute to his tragic fate. One way in which Macbeth tries to control the future is through his attempts to control the future is through his interaction with the witches and manipulation of the prophecies given to him by the three witches.
Another apparition that Macbeth mistakes is the bloody child. The bloody child symboically represents Macduff whom is to lead insurrection against his rule. But, Macbeth believes that it represents symboically that no man born of woman can kill him. So, as he enters war he hallucinates and thinks he is an immortal. Macbeth becomes over confident and has bad judgement during the war from the bloody child apparition that he puts his soldiers and himself in danger.
The apparitions, which are presented as prophetic visions, offer Macbeth a glimpse into his own fate, and the consequences of his actions. The first apparition, a disembodied head, warns Macbeth to beware of Macduff: Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff!
Macbeth is originally hesitant to follow through with his wife's plan to murder, however, Lady Macbeth disapproves of his fears and argues that, "Which fate and metaphysical aid don't seem /To have thee crown'd withal. " In Lady Macbeth's eyes, the witches imply that Macbeth should act upon the prophecy and become king as quickly as possible because it is his fate, and she is afraid her husband will not take advantage of the opportunity to take the crown. Lady Macbeth is one of many external factors that Shakespeare incorporated to demonstrate how an individual's decision-making process can be heavily influenced by others. Likewise, people will try to do many things to get what they want, even if they are
Therefore Macbeth is guilty for fearing that Banquo will expose that he is responsible for the murder of King Duncan. In addition, Macbeth goes to meet 3 witches to ask them about his future, and they give him 3 prophecies. In the final prophecy, they inform Macbeth that he must fear and be cautious of Macduff. In response to this message, Macbeth exclaims “The castle of Macduff I will surprise Seize upon Fife, give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line” (Shakespeare.
William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a testimony to the difference between greed and ambition, good and evil, and right and wrong. The story shows that when one becomes obsessed with power, they will often resort to methods of manipulation and retaliation to achieve their desired outcome. In the case of Macbeth, he is approached by the Three Witches who inform him that he will one day become Thane of Cawdor and the King of Scotland. Additionally, they inform Macbeth’s comrade Banquo that his sons will one day be kings.
With the throne under his control and Banquo out of the way, the only thing left threatening Macbeth’s reign is Macduff. Upon examination, Macduff is symbolic of death. In the play, the witches grant Macbeth three more prophetic statements in the form of apparitions. The first apparition says, “Macbeth! Macbeth!
Of all the failures human beings experience none are as crushing as those that are a result of following someone else’s desires. In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the protagonist self-destructs because of his external forces as well as his own poor choices. An external force that influenced Macbeth includes Lady Macbeth’s strong goals, which she forced on her husband. Additionally, the witches impacted Macbeth’s choices by offering him their tricky prophecies. The blind greed that took over Macbeth’s life also impacted his choices.
Shakespeare’s Macbeth, expresses the universal truth that one’s life is not determined by fate, but rather the choices that one makes; furthermore, how choosing poorly can lead to overwhelming feelings of guilt. The most prominent and underlying theme of Macbeth, is the concept of fate vs. free will, most clearly seen through the rising in power and eventual downfall of Macbeth himself. Early in the play, the Three Witches prophesied that Macbeth will become king of Scotland; however, the prophecy ends there. Macbeth exercises his free will and makes the decision to kill King Duncan and ensure his appointment to king.
The witches feed into the fears of Macbeth through this apparition. He was already suspicious of Macduff, but this revelation causes him to want to act upon these fears through violent means. This in turn causes Macbeth to be angry when Macduff has already escaped to England, which prompts the decision to kill his entire family. Hecate ordered the witches to create these apparitions in order to trick Macbeth. In this case, Macbeth is tricked into aggression.
When Macbeth is told by the first vision that he needs to beware of Macduff, his fears are confirmed that Macduff is a threat. When Macbeth is told this, he decides to kill Macduff’s family (Mac IV.i.71-74). Just like the witches, the apparition does not force Macbeth to act upon what he has been told, but still steers Macbeth towards violent
Have you heard of fate? Do you believe in fate? Well in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, fate plays an important role in Macbeth’s life. Fate is something that unavoidably befalls a person.
and obtains the title, which trigger an arrogant and self-absorbed thinking leading to madness and finally, death. The play seems to bring up the question, whether Macbeth is fully responsible of his own destiny, or under control of fate. In the first glance, the play seems to take rather fatalistic direction, meaning that we are powerless to make decisions as they are inevitably determined by supernatural power (Hugh 1)) It is due to the presence of supernatural forces throughout the whole play that systematically fulfills the prophecy; therefore the witches represent the idea of fate in the play. However, Shakespeare seems to rather intertwine fate with free will and perhaps even promotes the second philosophy as the play evolves.
When Macbeth asked the witches for more information about his future, they gave him answers through three apparitions. The first vision, warned Macbeth to beware of Macduff. The second was that Macbeth could not be harmed by
Fate plays an immensely significant role in shaping the plot and characters of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth and is a crucial force in determining the outcome of the play. Macbeth follows the downfall of a noble man after he commits regicide due to the witches and the prophecies, they provide to him. Although his downfall can be credited to fate, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s personal ambition and the manipulation he faces from his wife also drives the play to its tragic conclusion. The plot and characters of Macbeth are significantly influenced by fate throughout the play.