Fate in Macbeth Essay

Macbeth, helpless victim of fate of for filler of his own wants?

What is fate? Is fate uncontrollable of do we as human beings have a role in our own fate? In Macbeth, three witches tell our main character of the good future he will come into but is it he who really brings these prophecies to reality? In my opinion when it comes to Macbeth, fate has no hold over him good or bad, he alone decides for himself how his future will unfold.

It is understandable that some people may believe fate is completely in control in this play, because the witches first prophecy becomes reality. The witches call Macbeth Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cowdor, and King. He is the Than of Glamis, becomes the Thane of Cowdor with out any effort, but Macbeth does not become king until he himself kills the king, this is one example of Macbeth altering his final outcome. Another reason people may believe fate is completely in control is that the second prophecy given by the witches comes true as well. The witches tell Macbeth to beware of Macduff, though no one born of a woman can harm him, and only when the forest begins to march toward his castle should he fear. This makes Macbeth overly confident and when he hears Malcom is raising an army against him he does not even consider that this may cause his demise, and dismisses the idea. Macbeth does not even act to eliminate the army, this is a second way that Macbeth alters his own reality. Only when he sees with is own eyes the opposing army covered with branches as they march toward his castle does he even begin to show fear, though only slightly. Macbeth does nothing but raise his drawbridge and stay in the castle, because he is so confident that no man born of a woman can harm him. Macduff, whos mother died during childbirth, had to be cut from her whom, so technically Macduff was not born of a woman. Macduff eventually kills Macbeth. If Macbeth did not become overly confident, and acted on all the things he was hearing about a rising opposing army, he could have possibly defended himself and changed his final out come.

In conclusion, although all the things that the witches prophesied becomes reality, Macbeth never allows fate to take over. Macbeth becomes corrupted by power and after killing King Duncan, he continues a killing spree to keep his throne. When Macbeth sees that the first prophecies have become truth, he becomes overly confident when given a second profecy, and does not act at all as a normal ruler would. In my opinion Macbeth acts to achieve what the witches have prophesied. Macbeth is not bound by fate but is the controller of his own reality.