The Free Will Of Macbeth
In Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, each character's destiny seems to be predetermined. This raises the ultimate question: who, or what, controls fate. Existentialism is the belief that each person defines their future by their decided actions: that the future has not yet been written. Fatalism is the belief that the outcome of all events is preordained, and therefore, unalterable. Everyone has control over something whether it be themselves, someone else, or a material item, they are in control. Throughout Macbeth, Macbeth makes many decisions that clearly affect his future. One may wonder if they truly are decisions of his or if he is merely living out life according to fate (the master plan of his life). Many of the characters, events, and imagery in Macbeth indicate that fate plays a prominent role in advancing the plot.
The three witches and his wife, Lady Macbeth, are in control of Macbeth throughout the play. He has the free will to choose what to do when he wants but he frequently follows the predicted path, doing what others wish. Macbeth cannot withhold himself from knowing more of what the witches have to predict. He says to them, "Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more" (I.iii.73). In this scene, the witches begin to gain control over Macbeth. He is intrigued by what the witches have to say, and does not want them to leave until he knows more about what the future holds for him. When Macbeth realizes that the witches' prophecies of him begin to come true, he is stunned. He then begins to think of how he will be king, thus fulfilling all the prophecies. Macbeth makes an aside saying, "Two truths are told as happy prologues to the swelling act of the imperial theme" (I. iii. 140). Here Macbeth is falling into the trap of the witches by realizing that he will be able to conquer the quest of becoming king. It seems like Macbeth is someone who always gets what he wants, this greed that he has causes a problem. He...
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