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What Role Does Fate Play In Macbeth's Destiny

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Fate is a prediction of someone’s life and the internal and external forces playing a role in that person’s destiny. In Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth”, Macbeth is a victim of his prescribed destiny. Three witches, the people closest to Macbeth, and most importantly, his own ego and actions, determine his prescribed destiny. Three witches appear to Macbeth after King Duncan finds out he is betrayed by the Thane of Cawdor. He tells his nobleman to announce that Macbeth will now become the new thane of Cawdor! The witches exclaim “All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor.”(cite) They also announce he, “Shalt be king hereafter!” (Act I Sc3, lines 51-53). The witches are reinforcing his desire to eventually become king. The witches frighten …show more content…

She pushed Macbeth into killing Duncan. Lady Macbeth had an opportunity to kill Duncan herself, but Duncan reminded her too much of her father “Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done’t ”( act 2 sc 2 lines 16-17) “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be what thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great, Art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it,” Lady Macbeth (act1 sc5 lines 15-20). After hearing this, Macbeth decided to murder Duncan. Macbeth’s ego had a major impact on his behavior. “Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem to have thee crowned withal.”(act1 sc5 32-33) If it was no’t for his own ego, he would have never been influenced by the witches and Lady Macbeth to kill Duncan. As soon as he murdered Duncan, his ego took over and he became insane with power and paranoia. This made Macbeth responsible for what he did to Banquo and Macduff’s family. It is evident that Macbeth was just following his prescribed destiny when he committed the murders. Fate predicted Macbeth’s life through internal and external forces that played a role in his destiny. Through the weird sisters, the people closest to Macbeth, and above all, his own ego and actions, determine his prescribed

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When fate is brought into question, one thing people often ponder upon is what is the point of no return? There were many times throughout Macbeth by Shakespeare that Macbeth had the opportunity to change his serendipity. If Macbeth would have swallowed his pride when he received the three prophecies from the three witches, what was destined for him could have immensely been altered. Macbeth’s first encounter with the witches in Act 1 Scene 3 was the moment at which his entire world took a turn for the worst. In this scene the witches appear with a clap of thunder and soon stumble upon Macbeth and Banquo.

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