ipl-logo

Free Will In Shakespeare's Macbeth

732 Words3 Pages

The Norse word “wyrd”, which translates to fate, is applied to The Tragedy of Macbeth through the symbolic Weird Sisters. This definitions contradicts William Shakespeare’s and the Renaissance humanist’s beliefs in free will as opposed to fate. Shakespeare regarded free will as a human guarantee, but to what degree this freedom was utilized determines the fate of the individual. Despite the Weird Sisters’ prophecies and influence, Macbeth is in control of his fate throughout the drama. Evidence from the characters in Macbeth demonstrate Shakespeare’s belief that human beings have free will to choose their actions, but these decisions become their fate, and they often lead to their downfalls. Shakespeare’s beliefs on the concept of free …show more content…

Lady Macbeth’s character undergoes a complete personality transformation by Act V. The anxiety she had always feared is enhanced as she sleepwalks and guiltily relives her actions. “Out, damned spot, out, I say!...Yet who would have the old man to have so much blood in him” (Act V, i, 25-30). Through her death, Shakespeare enhances his philosophy that she utilized her free will to make negative decision which led to a guilt-filled fate. Macbeth’s character had built up an arrogant personality because of Hecate’s and the other witches’ prophecies. “Bring me no more reports. Let them fly all. Till Birnam Wood remove to Dunsinane. I cannot taint with fear...” (Act V, iii, 1-3). The climax of Macbeth’s arrogance descends dramatically as Lady Macbeth commits suicide, Macduff admits that he was technically not “born of a woman”, and the Birnam Wood advances in his direction. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s abilities to make choices that result in negative fates, support William Shakespeare's philosophical connection between free will and …show more content…

The weird sisters are symbols that appear throughout the five act play. The title “wyrd” contrasts with the norse translation of “fate”. Through other subtle elements, William Shakespeare enforces his philosophy that individuals have control over their fates because all human beings obtain free will. If the Renaissance humanists were to analyze Macbeth in deep detail, they could come to the conclusion that characters like Macbeth and Lady Macbeth had the conscience ability to make different choices, but their fears became their fates due to their

Show More
Related
706 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout the play Lady Macbeth has a great influence upon Macbeth’s decisions, including the one which begins all the bloodshed, daring Macbeth, “Wouldst thou have that which thou esteem’st the ornament of life, and live a coward in thine own esteem[?]” (1.7.41). Lady Macbeth invigorates and changes Macbeth’s attitude from unwilling and ambiguous about murdering Duncan to “settled, and bend up...to this terrible feat” by using pathos, demonstrating that Macbeth chooses evil because of the flawed influence of Lady Macbeth who is leading him down to a tragic alley.

Read More
342 Words | 2 Pages

But, Macbeth is stubborn and very strong-willed, so he has proceeds to have them killed. This decision is one that makes Macduff want revenge, and in turn shows the audience that the decision’s Macbeth makes all of his own accord are the ones that lead to his

Read More
804 Words | 4 Pages

The last thing that the witches predict is that macduff will kill macbeth, which happens. So the real question is did Macbeth have free will or was it fate that ended him? It is very easy to predict the fact that Macbeth was controlled by fait. Macbeth was easily controlled by fait. At the beginning of the story he had no idea he would ever be king.

Read More
1088 Words | 5 Pages

In Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth, Macbeth was a victim of both free will and fate. One was not more predominant than the other. It seemed as if Macbeth was just following his destiny at first, but he had a chance to change his fate. It was his lust for power that leads him to doom through his own free will.

Read More
396 Words | 2 Pages

“Macbeth- who may I rather challenge for unkindness than for mischance?” (2.3.44-45). Macbeth this is about a man who wanted to be in power and would do any wrong deed to get there. With the help of the Weird Sisters and his wife the murder spree began than ending with Macbeths head decapitated by a foe named Macduff. Although Lady Macbeth convinces her husband to follow the prophecies and Macbeth’s loyalty to his wife destroys his thoughts, the Weird Sisters hold ultimate control when they predict his coming title.

Read More
380 Words | 2 Pages

Everyday, these events play out… Do we consciously make these decisions? This essay, the fact that it has been written, was this all determined beforehand? Or, is it by our own free will? In his fictional story Macbeth, Shakespeare uses a common universal proverb, figurative speech (personification), and ____ to deepen the idea and our understanding of fate and free will.

Read More
824 Words | 4 Pages

In many circumstances it can be hard to understand why something happened, especially whether it was fate or free will. If it was fate then what was going to happen was already decided, and if it was free will then whatever the character chooses will result in a different ending. In Macbeth, a Tragedy by William Shakespeare, Lord Macbeth receives multiple prophecies that end up coming true which leads many to believe that all of his actions are a result of fate, but along the way it is shown that Macbeth tends to make his own decisions showing that it could also be a result of free will. Even though Macbeth wasn’t able to escape his fate or prove that the witches prophecies were false, Macbeth's downfall was a result of free will, seeing that he made

Read More
2055 Words | 9 Pages

Lady Macbeth criticizes, “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be/ What thou art promised. Yet I do fear thy nature;/

Read More
824 Words | 4 Pages

At the beginning of William Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ the protagonist Macbeth is described as ‘brave’, ‘noble’ and ‘honourable’, however Lady Macbeth’s and Macbeths desire for power consumes them. Macbeth’s ambition overrides his conscience and transformed his greatest strength into his greatest weakness. Macbeth’s inability to resist temptations that led him to be greedy for power, Macbeth’s easily manipulative nature which allowed his mind to be swayed, Macbeth having no self control and his excessive pride was what allowed him to renew his previously honourable and celebrated title into one of an evil ‘tyrant’. Macbeth is led by the prophecies of the witches after they foretell he will become the Thane of Cawdor. Not only the witches, but also his wife easily manipulate Macbeth as she attacks his manhood in order to provoke him to act on his desires.

Read More
1006 Words | 5 Pages

“If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me, without my stir” (Shakespeare 144). Macbeth, a loyal subject to his king has an encounter that will change his fate with an ultimate effect on his free will. They claim three predictions, Macbeth will be the Thane of Cawdor and later crowned King but Macbeths lineage will not maintain the throne. After this supernatural confrontation, Macbeth questions this loyalty which will ultimately lead to his new fate carried out (LitCharts 1). Fully capable to act upon his own free will, Macbeth instead is driven by fate to his destruction which gives further insight of his character advancement.

Read More
835 Words | 4 Pages

One of the most critical ideas surrounding tragedies is fate and destiny. The idea that an individual’s life is predetermined is associated with many great works of Shakespeare, and transcending through stories, if human beings have free will. If all humans carry free will, does that mean that all humans are responsible for their crimes and inhumanities. Undoubtedly, both topics are explored through the play, but Macbeth corrupts himself with his own destructive actions. The Tragedy of Macbeth stems from the fearless, hero of Scotland who then turned into a ruthless king who will kill anyone he sees as a threat.

Read More
907 Words | 4 Pages

Lady Macbeth’s experiences shows use to look at the full effects of our decisions. The consequences of Lady Macbeth making rash decisions and allowing the spirits into her life can show us in the short term many options may seem alluring, but in the long term, those decisions can have major consequences, such as changing our morals and making us respond differently to situations than we would usually

Read More
1064 Words | 5 Pages

Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth, analyzes the tragic downfall of a man who pursued his prophecy given to him by three witches, and suffered the downfall because of it. Told his power was inevitable, Macbeth explores the idea of murdering the King to achieve his goal of becoming King himself. Macbeth continually faces this, contemplating the moral issue of committing murder to in turn, fulfill his powerful destiny. While facing this internal conflict, Lady Macbeth developes an influence over Macbeth as well. Driven by her own desire to be Queen, Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to commit the murder, by challenging his manhood and often reminding him that it is, in fact, his destiny.

Read More
781 Words | 4 Pages

Macbeth believe and fall for the witches which made him think that no one can harm him. "I bear a charmed life, which must not yield and to one of woman born" (5.8.12-13). As Macbeth and Macduff are fighting each other, Macbeth tells him to leave, for he does not want the blood of another Macduff on his hands. Macduff refuses and charges at Macbeth. Macduff reveals that he was not woman of born, but from his mother's womb.

Read More
723 Words | 3 Pages

Fate Versus Free Will In Macbeth Fate versus free will is a theme well known throughout literature and in life as well. Is life controlled by fate, or are people’s lives dependent on the choices they make? In Macbeth, Shakespeare emphasizes the idea of fate vs. freewill, indicating that both elements play a role in the lives of individuals, as well as society as a whole. The main character, Macbeth’s, life is a combination of fate and his conscious decisions. The witches in Macbeth can control the fates of many, but only to a point.

Read More

More about Free Will In Shakespeare's Macbeth

Open Document