How Important Is Fate In Macbeth

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Was it fate, destiny, or the effects of psychology on the mind of the protagonist of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth? Throughout the tragedy of Macbeth, many of the choices that were made were questionable as to whether or not they were destined to happen, or if the influence of outside forces played a role in the decision making process. The belief in the existence and power of witches was highly believed in during the 11th century in Scotland, in which Macbeth took place. Though the people believed in magic, they were convinced these powers stemmed from the devil. “Shakespeare’s Macbeth portrays the most familiar of all tragic patterns; the rise and fall of a powerful but flawed man” (Mojica Class notes). The intensity of the tragedy is reliant…show more content…
Banquo, a brave, noble general, warns Macbeth that the witches cannot always be trusted and that they tempt by giving something sweet then drag you to the dark side. Macbeth in an aside says, “Two truths are told, as happy prologues to the swelling act of the imperial theme. --I thank you, gentlemen. Cannot be ill, cannot be good: if ill, why hath it given me earnest of success, commencing in a truth? I am thane of Cawdor: if good, why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, Against the use of nature? Present fears Are less than horrible imaginings: My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man that function Is smother'd in surmise, and nothing is But what is not.” (Shakespeare Act 1 Scene 3). When Macbeth realizes the witches predictions have been correct twice, his doubts of becoming king are ceased and he starts to wonder what he needs to do in order to become king. At this point, Macbeth was taken over with ambition and truly began his downfall. He conspired with his wife, Lady Macbeth, a plan to murder Duncan. After the deed of killing Duncan was taken care of, Macbeth went on the kill the servants so they wouldn’t be able to accuse him of the murder. This was only the first step of his…show more content…
Instead, he hired men to kill Banquo, one of his closest friends, and Banquo’s son Fleance who was just a child. Macbeth wanted them killed because since he didn’t have any children of his own, he did not have an heir to the throne and he didn’t want Banquo’s children to claim it. At the time when the witches predicted Macbeth would become king, they also foretold Banquo’s future. They told Banquo that he will be “Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. Not so happy, yet much happier. Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none”. (Shakeapeare Act 1 Scene 3). Macbeth felt that if he allowed Banquos’s sons to become kings then he would have killed Duncan and suffered through the guilt all for the benefit of someone else and he would not stand to let that happen. Based on the prediction by the witches, Macbeth once again let his greed get the best of him and had the blood of yet another innocent on his hands. However, after this murder, Macbeth did not feel any regret or

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