Fate in Macbeth Essay Sample

Fate is the power one has to control what happens in their life. In William Shakespeare's Macbeth, Macbeth is affected by the three witches, Lady Macbeth's pressure, and his own fate, all of which lead to his tragic collapse.  Due to popular belief, in some way Macbeth did have control over his fate because he listened to what the witches said and he could have intervened and changed his fate while knowing what it was; he caused destruction to his own life and for that, he is to blame for all the bad things that had happened to him. While in the play, Macbeth had free will and the ability to determine his own fate. 

To begin with, Macbeth had the opportunity to alter his fate after being given the prophecy by the witches. “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis!” “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!” “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (I.iii.49)

This quote here states the first interaction between Macbeth and the witches. They meet in a startling and unexpected way. The first which call him the “Thane of Cawdor” which is already his title and “king hereafter” while they were prophesizing that he will become king. The witches’ prediction sets as a factor in the plot in the play as Macbeth and the murder of his wife assure that he will become king and stay as king.

“FIRST WITCH Lesser than Macbeth and greater. SECOND WITCHNot so happy, yet much happier. THIRD WITCH Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!” (I.iii.65-69)

After the witches had prophesied that Macbeth would be king, Banquo asks what his future would be like. They tell him that he will be less happy than Macbeth but far happier and they also mention how he will never become king but his descendent will be. After Macbeth found this out he ordered Banquo to be murdered to keep his throne. The men who were sent to kill Banquo failed to kill his son Fleance and this could make the witches prophesy true.

“Methought I heard a voice cry, “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep” (II.ii.35-36)

The urge to do anything necessary to be the king of Scotland is what causes Macbeth to commit so many murders. His first murder in the play was King Duncan. In order to have the throne, the current king had to die and also all his successors. After that Duncan’s two sons leave so they will not be suspected of the murder they did not commit of their father. Now that the sons have fled the country, Macbeth has the opportunity to be the one who may become king. Fate plays a huge part in the way Duncan’s murder plays out.

Secondly,  while the Witches play a significant role in motivating Macbeth to murder and cause tragedy, Lady Macbeth had her desires and is the true villain for mentally poisoning Macbeth.

“First, as I am 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” (I.vii.13.16)

Inside the castle, while the servants prepare a table for the evening's feast, Macbeth wanders alone, mulling over his plan to assassinate Duncan. He claims that the deed would be simple if he could be guaranteed that it would not result in a chain of dreadful repercussions. He next examines why he should not kill Duncan: Macbeth is Duncan's kinsman, subject, and host; also, the king is highly respected as a virtuous ruler. Macbeth observes that these conditions provide him with nothing to motivate himself. He sees that there is no motive to assassinate the monarch other than his own desire, which he recognizes is an untrustworthy direction.

“When you durst do it,” she says, “then you were a man” (I.vii.49)

Lady Macbeth enters their home and tells her husband that the king has been asking for him. During that time Macbeth declares that he will not murder Duncan. Lady Macbeth goes crazy and calls him many words such as a coward and questions his manly hood. She later tells him her plan. While Duncan shall fall asleep, she would give his guard wine to make them drunk, and then Macbeth can enter his sleeping quatres and murder him. After they would smear the blood of the dead King of the guards to make it seem as tho they killed him. 

“For thy undaunted mettle should compose Nothing but males.” (I.vii.73)

Macbeth tells his wife that he hopes she will only give birth to male children. She manipulates Macbeth into doing the deed while telling him that if he succeeded they will be bold and successful in the future. After the multiplication of Lady Macbeth, Kind Duncan was dead.

Lastly, Macbeth’s fate caught up to him when he wanted to kill Banquo whom he was jealous of and worried about not getting his throne. Up to this point, Macbeth has faced a lot of issues from the murders of Duncan and, Lady Macduff and their son.  Furthermore, Macbeth is utilizing the witches as guidance in his life after receiving the prophecy when it was stated that he cannot be harmed by anyone born of a woman which instills in him a false sense of security that he is unbeatable. Even at this point, Macbeth has the option of believing the witches or not. The sisters do not cast any spells on him; all they do is instill a sense of stability and power in his greedy mind in preparation for kingship. Macbeth makes a soliloquy just before sending the two killers out to slay Banquo, in which he worries about the witches' predictions. 

"Rather than so, come fate into the list; And champion me to the utterance! (III.i. 73-76).

He's scared he's cursed his soul to hell in order for Banquo's descendants to rule Scotland. This is Macbeth's challenge to fate. "Come fate” means letting fate come. A "list" is an arena in which knights joust against one another. "Champion me" means to fight as a champion against him. And "the utterance" has the now-obsolete meaning of "the very end." In other words, Macbeth is daring fate to a battle to the death. He appears to be aware that he is up against formidable odds, and he imagines himself as a knight fighting fate itself. Macbeth is the architect of his own downfall. In the play, Macbeth is ultimately responsible for his own fate due to his decisions and deeds. 

In conclusion, Shakespeare's take on tempting fate is that if one can manage their own destiny, they can also control their own demise. Through the characters of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and the three Witches, he clearly demonstrates this. Macbeth is in charge of his own fate, but the Witches and Lady Macbeth force him to make decisions. Although Macbeth feels he is ruled by fate, a closer examination reveals that he is in complete control of his actions.