Macbeth Fate Essay

“Our destiny exercises its influence over us even when, as yet, we have not yet learned its nature” (Nietzsche). Fate is an uncontrollable thing in life, but the thought of it can dictate our actions and choices. The mere thoughts of the unknown future could compel one to turn to outlandish levels to change fate. In Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the title character Macbeth to show how fate can compromise one’s morality and greatly harm one's later success in life. Macbeth essentially starts as a seemingly normal character, a loyal subject for his country. Consequently, as the play progresses and Macbeth allows his fate to cloud his vision, we see him rapidly fall off the edge. Macbeth’s downward spiral begins when he gets a taste of power in learning

Macbeth has fallen so far that he doesn’t recognize morally right from wrong at this point, as all of his murders have been successful. His spree continues as he chooses to target Macduff’s family after Macduff is after Macbeth, wanting to fight him. “The castle of Macduff I will surprise, Seize upon Fife, give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line” (4.1.171-174). Macbeth kills Macduff’s son in hopes that this deters him from his pursuit of Macbeth. He discusses planning these murders as if they’re part of his daily routine, which suggests that taking lives comes of no moral harm to him. He no longer has any regard for others, only for himself and his personal gain. He has achieved everything he saw in his prophecy, which was the driving force behind his actions. Even as the prophecies said, he believes that no one of the woman-born will overthrow him, leading him to be slightly cocky and arrogant. “Till Birnam Wood remove to Dunsinane / I cannot taint with fear” (5.3.2-3). He claims that he won’t be frightened until the woods move, insinuating that he is