In Shakespeare's play, "Macbeth," fate is a concept that is showcased throughout the scenes. The ideas based around fate influenced the characters to act irrationally, making this play one of a tragic setting. The theme placed around fate is that once its set in place, it cannot be changed by any means or circumstances. All events in Macbeth coincide with the predetermined fates given to the main character, Macbeth. Despite the extent to which he tried to change his fate, it ended up in a complete failure.
In the beginning of the play, specifically in Act I, scene iii, Macbeth and his best friend Banquo were both greeted by three witches. There, the witches told Macbeth and Banquo of their fates. A very important part of Banquos fate was that even though he wasn't to become a king himself, his descendants will be. An important aspect of Macbeth's fate is that he will become the king of Scotland. The witches had no mention of how in particular these fates were going to occur, or the outcome that was to happen after that fates came true, just the implication that they will definitely happen. Instead of just waiting fate out and just letting it happen, however, Macbeth takes matters into his own hands. We as the audience learn soon later that his thoughts and actions in trying to change fate dont work out for him in the least.
An instance in which Macbeth tries to ensure his fate occurs during the height of the rising action. As soon as Macbeth found out that he was going to be king, he began to get power-hungry. He began thinking about actually killing the king, King Duncan, in order to instill his place on the throne as king. After much deliberation and persuasion by his wife, Lady Macbeth, Macbeth finally commits the sinister crime of the murder of King Duncan. After his death, Macbeth became king. This event accurately proves that his fates will come true. As stated before, the witches made no mention of how things would turn out for Macbeth after the fates came true.
