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Macbeth Free Will Quotes

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Free will is an individuals own ability to choose what happens next, it is their own decision and can be seen in humans as early as a toddler who is told by their parents to not touch something. It’s that little child’s free will that is put to the test and some will listen and not touch the item while others cave into the desire and do the opposite of what’s told. The focus of William Shakespeare's Macbeth is on a Scottish soldier named Macbeth who becomes engrossed with the prophecy from three witches which says he will be crowned as king. Throughout the play, the reader sees how his character undergoes an fast change from once being considered an honest and loyal man to a crazed lying murderer. This drastic character change is all caused …show more content…

However, when the witches prophesize, that Macbeth will become the king of Scotland, Macbeth's ambition takes over, and he begins to consider the possibility of fulfilling this prophecy. Although he initially ignores the idea, his ambition and desire for power lead him to commit murder. As Macbeth himself acknowledges, "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself And falls on the other" (Shakespeare I.7.25-28). This quote reveals that Macbeth's ambition is the driving force behind his decision to kill King Duncan. Despite knowing that murdering a king is a terrible crime, Macbeth chooses to go through with the plan because he wants to become the king …show more content…

Despite this, it is important to acknowledge that he has complete control over his actions in response to these two external factors. The witches predict that Macbeth will become King of Scotland, but they do not force him into acting towards their sayings. In fact Macbeth goes out of his way to contact the witches again to ask for more information. Similarly, Lady Macbeth pushes for murder but does not force him into following through with her desires. She herself even had second thoughts and did not go through with the murder. Ultimately, it is up to Macbeth whether he chooses to act on these outside influences because he still has free will. While only one killing was thought of by Lady Macbeth, Macbeth goes out of his way to do more without even telling his wife up until the murder is about to happened. This acting further proves that even though the first plans of murder were thought of by his wife it was all acted out by him and no one

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This quote can seem as if his own choices should be credited for the outcome, but referring back to the quote from Act I. Sc.3 51-53, the witches already predicted it. This quote relates to the fact that fate is controlling Macbeth’s life because seeing that the witches predicted this outcome show that this was fate. In Act I. Sc.3 51-53 the witches never elaborated on how Macbeth shall become king, but they stated that he shall be king. In the end is he king? Yes, he is king.

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“I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself…” (1.7.25-27) During the first act, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth come up with a plan to kill King Duncan, so Macbeth can become the king. But there are some obstacles that Macbeth has to face before becoming king. And Macbeth admits that he has ambition taking him over and that it is making him “power hungry” or just wanting to become powerful.

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However, these qualities are amplified by the prophecies of the witches, who predict his rise to kingship. Macbeth's initial murder of King Duncan is driven by his desire to fulfill this prophecy and secure his power. However, the act of regicide proves too much for Macbeth

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In the book Macbeth the witches came to Macbeth to tell him about a prophecy of him being the next king of cawdor. Now this is where free will comes in, it was Macbeth 's choice to listen to the witches or not, if he didn 't listen to them the whole story

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The decisions that one makes in their lifetime ultimately determines their destiny. Macbeth is a tragedy of how evil utterly consumes and destroys a once decent man. Evil does not overcome one on its own, it is a series of choices. Macbeth is responsible for his own demise because he displays moral flaws of selfishness and arrogance.

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We are given a good impression of Macbeth by other characters even before he makes his first appearance on stage. But does Macbeth control his fate and free will? Macbeth made some poor decisions and let people influence him and that led to his ultimate

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Thus, his judgement may be impaired or at least very questionable, as he cannot clearly or thoughtfully think through all of his actions and their consequences. However, Lady Macbeth is his only confidant in his struggle to fulfill the prophecy. She is the only one working with him that knows the full story of what he is doing and, most importantly, why he is doing so. Therefore, she is responsible for not stopping him from committing these terrible acts, as he is not sane enough to do so himself. And, as Macbeth continues to rule cruelly without interference from his knowledgeable wife, the citizens begin to realize more and more that he must be overthrown.

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Trapped by Fate In Macbeth Macbeth struggles with the idea of fate versus free will. When he believes, he can control his own destiny, he eventually comes to realize that fate is more powerful than free will. Macbeth's journey shows that despite his best efforts to change the course of his life, to fulfill his prophecy to be king, he cannot escape the fate that has been predetermined for him by the witches. In the play “Macbeth”, Shakespeare explores the theme that fate is more powerful than free will, showing how a person's ambition and desire for power can lead them to make choices that cannot be undone.

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Despite the influences of Lady Macbeth and the three Weird Sisters, Macbeth is mostly responsible for his own downfall. He is the one who makes the decisions throughout the entire play even though he is influenced by others. He also uses the prophecies in a negative way and loses his relationship with his wife by leaving her out of decisions later on in the play. Throughout the play Macbeth overthrows his guilt and continues to kill people to protect his crown. His confidence and desire for power fuels his ambition to become king.

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Macbeth shows that he is willing to kill King Duncan because he is interested in the witches prophecy, after they tell him that he will become ‘Thane of Cawdor’ and then the King.

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Macbeth chose to listen and accept the prophecy as truth even though he had no proof. Although the witches influence Macbeth they did not suggest to Macbeth to kill the king, he got that idea from his selfish thoughts. After the witches visit Macbeth he goes to his wife about his thoughts of killing the king. Lady Macbeth encourages murder because that’s the only way she thinks Macbeth can become king.

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Macbeth’s ambition is what is causing him to intervene with his prophecy and pursue his goal (rather than leave it to chance). In a way, it is Macbeth’s own “black and deep desires” that make him kill in the first place as the witches never tell him to do so. Furthermore, apart from ambition, it is Macbeth’s own weak will and moral system that causes him to do the actions that result in his downfall. Macbeth’s weak will is undeniable and is illustrated before killing Duncan. “I have of spur/To prick the sides of my intent, but only/Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself/And falls on the other” (I, VII, 25-28).

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The witches did give his apparition but they didn 't tell him to kill the King and while murder passed Macbeth’s mind he never truly had the guts to go kill the King. On the other hand, Lady Macbeth had this whole plan and the confidence to execute it, she was the only one from everybody else that was actually willing to commit a crime for the throne. Her confidence and her ambitious personality convinces Macbeth and made him kill the King but even after he killed the kill he never really sure if he wanted to go this way and receive the power with doing a dastardly deed. Later the continuous support leads him to become heartless and made him oblivious to his downfall. Lady Macbeth’s techniques to convincing Macbeth and her greed and her ambitious personality lead Macbeth 's undoing and caused him to suffer through agony.

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