Though fate may play a part in our lives, we have choices to make and we must accept responsibility for these choices, as well as the consequences. If we do not, then fate becomes a perfect excuse for one’s actions. Macbeth, a famous play by William Shakespeare, is a classic example of fate versus free will as the character, Macbeth, undergoes a moral decline and eventual demise. Although prophecies from apparitions motivated Macbeth’s actions and ultimately played a detrimental role in his tragic downfall, he was not a victim of fate, rather he was a victim of his own poor choices. The prophecies of the apparitions, the pressures and manipulation of his wife and his own long-time ambition and desire to be King were the guiding forces which brought about Macbeth’s destruction.

The prophecies of the apparitions started Macbeth’s downward spiral of defeat by inspiring his thoughts and sparking his already present ambition. By looking at the first set of prophecies we see that the witches greeted Macbeth by the titles of Thane of Glamis (his current position), Thane of Cawdor (a recently awarded position though he was not aware of it at this point), and King of Scotland. When

The apparitions’ second set of prophecies warned Macbeth to beware of Macduff. They also advised him that no one born from a woman would be able to harm him. This gave Macbeth a false sense of confidence that Macduff was not a threat to him, not realizing that Macduff was delivered by cesarean section and not born through normal childbirth. Macduff did eventually kill Macbeth but this was not fate. Had Macbeth not made the choice to kill the King and take the throne, Macduff would not have avenged the King’s murder by killing Macbeth. Lastly, the witches tell Macbeth that he will not be conquered until Birnam Wood meets Dunsinane Hill, a seemingly impossible act. Macbeth could never have foreseen that Birnam Wood was actually Malcolm’s army camouflaged with tree branches. Birnam Wood did meet Dunsinane Hill and Macbeth was defeated but again this was not fate. If Macbeth did not kill the King and take the throne, Malcolm, King Duncan’s son, would never have ordered his army to attack.

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.

Some topics in this essay:
Lady Macbeth, King Scotland, William Shakespeare, Lady Macbeth’s, King Duncan, Versus Free, Banquo Macbeth, Duncan Macbeth, Birnam Wood, King Basically, lady macbeth, kill king, king duncan, prophecies apparitions, lady macbeth’s, witches tell macbeth, witches tell, birnam wood, overcome desire, becoming king, murder king, macbeth overcome desire, macbeth kill king, king duncan lady, long-time ambition desire,