Macbeth's Fate

Words: 725
Pages: 3

Macbeth, a Victim of his Choices Decision making is key in determining how ones life will evolve. In William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, Macbeth, the main character, faces tough decisions just like any other person experiences in life. However, Macbeth’s choices have much heavier impact, including the deaths of others. The idea of what Macbeth is a victim of, his fate or free will, is seen throughout. At many points, Macbeth’s fate seems to be what he is a vicim of, but ultimately it is his own choices which lead to his downfall. Fate is mentioned throughout the play. The idea of fate hints that Macbeth’s is already determined. In Act 1 of Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth is greeted by three witches. These three witches provide a look at Macbeth’s …show more content…
Macbeth sees a sign, a dagger, that gives him the choice of what happens next. Macbeth says, “Is this a dagger which I see before me, /The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee…/ And such an instrument I was to use”(2.1 44-45,55). In this soliloquy by Macbeth, he envisions a dagger in front of him. Macbeth reaches for the handle just to find that it was an illusion. This resembles Macbeth’s decision. Macbeth can chose the dagger, or to not kill Duncan. Macbeth makes the decision my drawing his dagger from his waist. This is a choice of Macbeth’s, he has his free will to chose what happens to Duncan. This is not decided by fate, but decided by Macbeth alone. The three witches that tell Macbeth of his prophecies tell him that he would be king if he kills Duncan, but Banquo’s offspring would secede him. Macbeth doesn’t want to take any chances, so he makes a tough decision. Macbeth ultimately decided to hire murderers to kill Banquo. Macbeth says to the murderers he hires, “Fleance, his son, that keeps him company, Whose absence is no less material to me / Than is his father’s, must embrace the fate / Of that dark hour”(3.2.154-157). Macbeth makes the decision to not only kill Banquo, but his son as well. Macbeth wants to be the king and he wants it to stay in his family thereafter, not