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Control is a recurring theme in the play "Macbeth" as it warns the audience of the reprecussions of trying to control your fate. The first key event where control features in a significant way is the witches prophecies. They tell Macbeth that he will become Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland which establishes the importance of fate. Shakespeare conveys the witches as agents of evil that are deceptive and dangerous, "oftentimes to win us to our harm/the instruments of darkness tell us truths," showing that they use truth itself to influence a horrible outcome (Macbeth 's tragic demise.) Their message is compelling and attractive and we can clearly see their effect on Macbeth as it greatly contrasts to that of Banquo.
Importance of control elsewhere in the play • How control is shown • Reasons for control within the play Control is a recurring theme in the play "Macbeth" as it warns the audience of the repercussions of trying to control your fate. The first key event where control features in a significant way is the witches' prophecies. They tell Macbeth that he will become Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland which establishes the importance of fate. Shakespeare conveys the witches as agents of evil that are deceptive and dangerous, "oftentimes to win us to our harm/the instruments of darkness tell us truths," showing that they use truth itself to influence a horrible outcome (Macbeth's tragic demise.) Their message is compelling and attractive and we
Hail to thee, thane of Glamis!” Second Witch “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to you, thane of Cawdor!” Third Witch “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” Shakespeare, Macbeth, I, iii, 47-49
Fate shows the characterization of disillusionment, and conveys the theme do not let fate decide a person’s future, take action and alter it to make it come true. After Macbeth comes back from fighting, witches appear and tell him his prophecy. “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis / All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor / All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter” (1.3.51-53).
Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!” , “All hail, MacBeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!” , All hail, MacBeth! Thou shalt be king hereafter.”
In Greek tragedies, fate uses the hero’s stubborn belief in his ability to determine his own fate in order to have him arrive at his fated end in a manner contrary to his will. Macbeth arrives at his fate by trying to be responsible for his own fate. On the one hand, Macbeth has no control over his destiny, and is merely a pawn of fate. On the other hand, fate actually does use Macbeth’s own character to accomplish its ends, so in that sense he is not merely a pawn. Because he is not merely a pawn, he retains a certain responsibility for his actions, and because he retains responsibility, he retains something of his freedom.
One way Macbeth is presented as a powerful character is through his ability to single handedly alter the outcome of a battle. His immense power when fighting against the Norwegian rebels was described to be as if he was ‘disdaining fortune with his brandished steel’. This quote suggests that despite seeming as if it was fate for them to lose, Macbeth was able to surpass all expectations and triumph in the end. The phrase ‘disdaining fortune’ may suggest that Macbeth’s power was so great that it not only defeated the literal opponent in front of him but also the intangible force of destiny; this only emphasises his excellence. Furthermore the phrase ‘fortune on its damned quarrel smiling’ personifies fate as if it were an actual opponent.
The three witches, in the play “Macbeth” written by William Shakespeare, present themselves as just plain evil, caring only for themselves. They harm those that displease them or to please themselves. The witches can be compared to the Fates in Greek mythology because, “In nearly all mythologies the three Fates, rulers of the past, present and future… the most prominent are the Greek Fates. Clotho was the Spinner, Lachesis, the Measurer; and Atropos, the Cutter of life's thread.” The Fates would use thread, and weave it to represent others destinies.
This fate and option of free will, is seen throughout the play yet shows itself prominent in Macbeth. With a strong presence throughout the book fate and free will finds its way in every aspect of the story. The first depiction of fate and free will in the play is the interaction between the witches and Macbeth. This instance is the start of the paradoxical path the story follows. The witches tell Macbeth his fate is to be king and that no man born of woman will be able to harm his life.
Similarly, Macbeth receives a prophecy from three witches. After a victorious battle, Macbeth begins his long journey back to his home. When Macbeth encounters the three Weird Sisters, they tell him “All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis/ All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor/ All hail
Of all the failures human beings experience none are as crushing as those that are a result of following someone else’s desires. In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the protagonist self-destructs because of his external forces as well as his own poor choices. An external force that influenced Macbeth includes Lady Macbeth’s strong goals, which she forced on her husband. Additionally, the witches impacted Macbeth’s choices by offering him their tricky prophecies. The blind greed that took over Macbeth’s life also impacted his choices.
All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth! Thou shalt be king hereafter!
Have you heard of fate? Do you believe in fate? Well in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, fate plays an important role in Macbeth’s life. Fate is something that unavoidably befalls a person.
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.
“All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!”