Nelson Mandela states a poem called The Invictus written by William Ernest Henley, “I am a master of my fate and the captain of my soul.” (Redfern, Lindsey). This quote relates to Shakespeare’s Macbeth in many aspects. Fate is something that unavoidably befalls a person. Free will is the independent choice to do something; a voluntary decision. The events that take place in Macbeth are both the choices he makes and the witches prophecies. Fate and free will is what causes Macbeth to fall in the end.
In Act 1, Macbeth is content with his future being led by “chance.” He says “If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, without my stir” (I.iii.143-144). Macbeth thinks by letting “chance” take over there is no reason to go against King Duncan. He becomes the “Thane of Cawdor” which is one of the prophecies of
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All the decisions Macbeth makes to kill Banquo is from the choice of free will. He does not has to do what he does, but he feels threatened. During the banquet, Macbeth sees Banquo ghost. At this point, Macbeth loses his sanity. The guilt is eating him alive.
Macduff is a part of Macbeth’s fate as well. From day one, Macduff is suspicious of Macbeth’s climb to the throne. For example, he leads a crusade to take down Macbeth and reclaims the throne to Malcolm. Macbeth’s fate is not just determined by Malcolm reclaiming the throne, but revenge for murdering Macduff’s family. Macbeth’s fate is in the hands of Macduff either he will rise or fall.
Macbeth suffers from the decisions that he makes. For example, when Malcolm and Macduff come back to battle him. Macduff says
Despair thy charm, and let the angel whom thou still hast served
Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother’s womb
Untimely ripped.