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
He felt he needed to go back to make sure his kingship was secure. 117-120) Macbeth is sure that he is going to be king and to be that he feels that he must kill Banquo. The apparitions show for Macbeth to beware of Macduff. Macbeth says to the murderers, "Whose execution takes your enemy off, / Grapples you to the heart and love of us, / Who wear our health but sickly in his life, / Which in his death were perfect. Like stated before, Macbeth thought he had done nothing to become Thane of Glamis but, he had. Here Macbeth is struggling with himself to choose between right and wrong, his evil thoughts overpower his goodness and he chooses to kill. Macbeth is full of killings and greed. Macbeth agrees with his wife when he answers back to her. Macbeth chooses to kill Macduff because the witches said to watch out for him. The witches tell him what to look out for in four apparitions, this tells Macbeth that everything he has done will come back to him. Macbeth keeps asking to know more, "But one word more" (IV. The witches here control Macbeth because he cannot stop himself from killing.
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