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Fate VS. Freewill in Macbeth

 

            
             In Shakespeare's Macbeth a question arises about whether Macbeth is a puppet controlled by supernatural forces, fate, or if Macbeth is making his own decisions, forming his own life, free will. In the beginning the three witches make predictions to Macbeth. Some of the predictions begin to come true as if it were fate that they happened. The question is whether or not these predictions were truly fate for them to occur or if Macbeth was influenced bye outside forces, but caused these events to occur by his own free will.
             In Act I Macbeth and Banquo come across the three witches on the heath. The witches make three predictions to Macbeth and Banquo; Macbeth will be the Thane of Cawdor, he will become king, Banquo's sons will also become king and that Banquo will not become king. Later on in that same scene Ross and Angus tell Macbeth that he is now the Thane of Cawdor. Upon receiving this news Macbeth remembers the predictions the three witches had made:.
             Macbeth. Present fears are less that horrible imaginings, (I,vii,138).
             Macbeth begins to become fearful that he may have to do something horrible in order to take over King Duncan's throne. He hopes that if does not come to that, but instead that he becomes king by "chance".
             The predictions of the three witches begin to start coming true. Macbeth believes it is fate. He believes that he is just a mere actor in the midst of everything, a player on a stage: .
             Macbeth. Life is but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is near no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sand and fory signifying nature, (V,v,24-25).
             Macbeth believes that everything is he is doing is suppose to happen. When he is about to kill King Duncan a dagger is there and he says it must be fate.
             The witches" predictions greatly influence Macbeth. Even though these predictions influence him, Macbeth des everything by his own freewill.


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