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Weïrd Sisters Influence On Macbeth

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Are humans able to act independently? Macbeth, a tragedy by William Shakespeare, explores individuals' ability to exercise autonomy in an environment of external pressures and conflicting desires. The play follows the fate of Macbeth, a valiant Scottish noble, and how his ultimate ruin is intrinsically woven into the influences of those around him. Driven by the sway of his surrounding troupe, he begins a relentless pursuit of power, leading him down a fatal path of murder and tyranny. Macbeth’s ultimate fate was caused by the influences of those around him, as illustrated by the avarice of Lady Macbeth and the prophetic orations of the Weïrd Sisters and Hecate; although these influences eventually caused Macbeth to attempt to exert his agency, …show more content…

At the beginning of the play, Macbeth and Banquo are ambushed by the Weïrd Sisters, a group of witches, as they come home from killing Macdonwald, a traitor to the Scottish throne. The Sisters then tell Macbeth and Banquo a prophecy, promising kinghood for Macbeth. Contemplating the omen, Macbeth thinks to himself, “If chance will have me king, why, chance may / crown me / without my stir” (Shakespeare I.iii.157-159). The personification of the word “chance” reveals the overwhelming influence of supernatural forces upon Macbeth’s fated ascension to the throne. This is because by relating the term “chance” to supernatural beings, Shakespeare is alluding to the idea that Macbeth becoming king could be a matter of forces outside of his control rather than his deliberate efforts, illustrating external influence in his eventual rise to power. This is corroborated by the phrase, “without my stir,” in the given quote; the usage of this phrase implies that Macbeth does not need to take any direct action or actively involve himself in the process of becoming king, suggesting that events may unfold without his direct intervention, further emphasizing the influence of external forces upon his fate. The passivity of Macbeth towards heeding the prophecies of the Weïrd Sisters emphasizes the greater role of external forces in the progression of Macbeth’s destiny, in comparison to his own

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From the beginning of the play, Macbeth's ambition takes center stage. In Act 1, Scene 3, Macbeth utters the famous line, "If chance has me king, why, chance may crown me without my stir" (1.3.143-144). This quote displays his willingness to let fate play its part. Macbeth's subsequent actions, such as the murder of King Duncan, are not the result of schizophrenia but rather the consequences of his unbridled ambition. The play vividly portrays how a desire for power and dominance can corrupt even the noblest individuals.

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In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the character Macbeth has an imagination that helps him commit a horrendous crime, but also makes it hard for him to commit it. First, Macbeth has an imagination that helps him by continuing to tell himself that he will be king. Macbeth is so blinded by being king that he loses sight of his life. In the play it is quoted, “If chance will have me King, why, chance may crown me, without my stir.”

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As individuals, we have a certain degree of control over our own lives and the decisions we make. While external factors such as social pressure, cultural norms, and personal circumstances can influence us, ultimately, we have agency in choosing how we respond to those factors. This is portrayed through William Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth, the titular character Macbeth is the protagonist, a Scottish general who receives a prophecy from three witches that he will become king. Consumed by ambition and spurred on by his wife, Lady Macbeth, Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the throne for himself. However, his guilt and paranoia lead him to commit more murders in order to maintain his power, and he becomes increasingly tyrannical as his

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Throughout the play, the witches’ control over Macbeth developed into a strong tie with his choices. By prophesying to him, the witches essentially planted the seed that grew to dominate Macbeth’s mind. This is shown when Macbeth says, “Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more” (1.3.70). Once Macbeth notices the prophecies becoming a reality, he starts to think about becoming king, thus fulfilling all the prophecies. Aside, Macbeth says,, “Two truths are told, as happy prologues to the swelling act of the imperial theme” (1.3.128-129).

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Macbeth’s knowledge of the prophecies told to him by the weird sisters, causes him to take fate into his own hands, even though he expects his actions to be pre-planned by fate. Macbeth’s first encounter with the weird sisters is when they tell him about the first prophecy and he starts his journey to power. The first witch says, “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter! (1.3.53).”

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The idea of a single person or group having sole control of all events is very unlikely; three main characters Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and the Witches have have a constant shift in control. Macbeth depends on the Witches and his wife, his initial self doubt is tragic flaw. Although Macbeth receives the title Thane of Cawdor for his gallantry in battle, he begins to trust the Witches predictions. Macbeth's self doubt, ambitions, and his success are manipulated as weapons against him. However macbeth isn’t an innocent in this story.

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At the start of the play, Macbeth visits the witches with Banquo at the closing of the battle. The witches speak to Macbeth and Banquo and get the idea of a prophecy in Macbeth’s mind. “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” (1.3.46-48). When the witches get the prophecy in Macbeth’s mind, he believes it will come true and misunderstands the prophecy of the witches. Although the witches make Macbeth believe in the prophecy of becoming the King, Macbeth is responsible for his downfall because they do not recommend Macbeth to kill Duncan.

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If chance will have me king, why, chance / may crown me /Without my stir” (1.3.149-156). A lot of people believe that life is already put together for them by a supernatural power. They think their actions, and decisions are made by that supernatural power. In Macbeth, the supernatural powers were the witches, however, in a modern society the supernatural power depends on one’s religion.

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and obtains the title, which trigger an arrogant and self-absorbed thinking leading to madness and finally, death. The play seems to bring up the question, whether Macbeth is fully responsible of his own destiny, or under control of fate. In the first glance, the play seems to take rather fatalistic direction, meaning that we are powerless to make decisions as they are inevitably determined by supernatural power (Hugh 1)) It is due to the presence of supernatural forces throughout the whole play that systematically fulfills the prophecy; therefore the witches represent the idea of fate in the play. However, Shakespeare seems to rather intertwine fate with free will and perhaps even promotes the second philosophy as the play evolves.

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