Tyson Pipitone
Mr. Chomin
Foundations of Literature, period 5
23 May 2023
The truth about prophecies
Brooke Scarcella and Jala Alsurakhi state, “Fate is this idea that there is some type of higher power that is in control of our future or that things happen for reasons that are out of our hands. Free will embodies this idea that we all as humans have the ability to choose any possible course of action we desire and this is based on our own discretion” (Scarcella, Alsurakhi Fate or Free Will?). But what about the idea of prophecies? Are they fate or free will? Macbeth by Shakesphere might have the answer. Throughout Macbeth, three witches tell Macbeth prophecies that come true. The prophecies do come true but with the force of Macbeth's hand. This is why the theme of Macbeth is that prophecies are free will disguised as fate. When you hear a prophecy, it puts an idea in your head that what was prophesied will happen. Throughout the play, Macbeth believes what the witches tell him. In Act 1 Scene 4, Macbeth’s soliloquy says, “The prince of Cumberland! That is a step on which I must fall down, or else
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The play shows this when an apparition says,”Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of women born shall harm Macbeth” (Mac. 4. 1. 90-92). This quote makes Macbeth think that no one can hurt him because everyone is born of a woman. Later on in the play Macbeth has Macduff's family killed (Mac 4. 2. 89-98). Little does Macbeth know, he is setting himself up for death because of the misleading prophecy. In the final act of the play, Macbeth finds out that Macduff was not born of a woman because he was born early being ripped out of his mother’s womb (Mac 5. 8. 17-20). This means that because of the confusing prophecy, Macbeth has Macduff's family killed making Macduff want to kill