macbeth essay on fate and free will

William Shakespeare

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From the moment the weird sisters tell Macbeth and Banquo their prophecies, both the characters and the audience are forced to wonder about fate. Is it real? Is action necessary to make it come to pass, or will the prophecy come true no matter what one does? Different characters answer these questions in different ways at different times, and the final answers are ambiguous—as fate always is.

Unlike Banquo, Macbeth acts: he kills Duncan . Macbeth tries to master fate, to make fate conform to exactly what he wants. But, of course, fate doesn't work that way. By trying to master fate once, Macbeth puts himself in the position of having to master fate always. At every instant, he has to struggle against those parts of the witches' prophecies that don't favor him. Ultimately, Macbeth becomes so obsessed with his fate that he becomes delusional: he becomes unable to see the half-truths behind the witches' prophecies. By trying to master fate, he brings himself to ruin.

Fate ThemeTracker

Fate Quotes in Macbeth

[ This is an annotated list of passages related to Macbeth's struggle with fate. ]

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Essay: Macbeth – fate and free will

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Elbert Hubbard, an American Writer, once said, “Life is a compromise between fate and free will.” There is a constant struggle between what fate decides, and what the consequences of free will lead up to. Even if the end of a pathway is predetermined by fate, the way it is reached is through one’s own decisions made by free will. The consequences of these actions made in free will then determines how one comes about their destiny. In Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, the characters suffer fated deaths resulted from their actions. Fate and free will cohesively go hand in hand ultimately leading up to the deaths of Duncan, Lady Macbeth, and Macbeth. The death of Duncan is determined by fate and free will because the actions of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth led to his death. When Macbeth comes across the witches, they reveal to him that he, “Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter” (1.3.53), and he becomes ambitious to reach that position quickly. Throughout the play, Macbeth solely lives by the witches’ prophecies, basing his decisions off of what they say. At the time this prophecy was stated, Duncan was King of Scotland. Previously, the witches tell Macbeth that he would be Thane of Cawdor, which became true, so Macbeth believed in the accuracy of the prophecies. This persuaded Macbeth that it was in his fate that he would become King of Scotland, since it was predetermined by the witches. As it was Macbeth’s fate to become King of Scotland, it correlated that Duncan’s fate would be death, in order to fulfill the prophecy. Although it may seem that Duncan’s death was fate, Macbeth’s free will determined how he would take Duncan’s throne. After Macbeth heard his prophecy, he told Lady Macbeth his fate. She suggested that he should kill Duncan, and starts to plan the murder. Initially Macbeth was rather reluctant to Lady Macbeth’s idea of murder, however she later persuaded him into following through with the assassination. As Macbeth saw the blade, he asks, “Is this a dagger which I see before me,/ The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch/ thee” (2.1.44-46). Macbeth decides that he will murder Duncan out of his own free will. He explicitly asks for the dagger, “Come let me clutch thee” showing the desire behind his actions. Macbeth’s free will changes proportionally with his characterization, because he went from viewing murder as impure, to now committing one himself. As his values and perceptions change, Macbeth acts differently, which overall influences his free will. Fate and free will are both accountable for Duncan’s death because of the actions Macbeth took to fulfill the witches’ prophecy that he would become king. Lady Macbeth’s free will led to her negative influence on Macbeth, and eventually resulted in her fate, her death. At the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth’s characterization was headstrong and powerful. She serves as the main influence for Macbeth to murder Duncan, as she extensively argues against Macbeth, demanding that he must follow through with the murder. She uses his own manhood against him by stating, “When you durst do it, then you were a man; / And, to be more than what you were, you would / be so much more the man” (1.7.56-58). Lady Macbeth was the first to know when Macbeth had heard the prophecy of becoming King of Scotland, and was overjoyed by the news. She made sure that he would fulfill his prophecy, regardless of any circumstances. She harshly criticizes Macbeth for not wanting to commit the murder, depreciating him as being less than a so called “man.” Her argument is effective, as Macbeth successfully committed the murder. Lady Macbeth misuses her free will, as she only looks in interest of herself and Macbeth, not considering anybody else being affected by her actions. A change in her characterization occurs after Macbeth had become King of Scotland and abused his power by ordering unnecessary murders. Lady Macbeth becomes overwhelmed with guilt as she was the one who forced the impurity in Macbeth, driving her to be mentally and emotionally unstable. She has a gentlewoman to take care of her, and one day a Doctor comes to visit. He evaluates, “Unnatural deeds/ do breed unnatural troubles. Infected minds/ to their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets./ More needs she the divine than the physician” (5.1.75-78). Lady Macbeth’s fate is determined by her free will because her “unnatural deeds” drove her to have an “infected mind” which is out of the Doctor’s control. Her fate is death, as the Doctor believes that there is nothing that can be done to cure her of her troubles. Lady Macbeth’s free will of previous constraint upon Macbeth has led her to feel responsible for Macbeth’s presiding actions. Macbeth kills former friends who he believes are now enemies, susceptible people, and harmless families, showing the impact of Lady Macbeth’s free will. She eventually commits suicide because the pain was unbearable. If Lady Macbeth had not been so forceful towards Macbeth killing Duncan, he would not have gone insane, and she would not have felt guilty. Fate and free will determine Lady Macbeth’s death because her guilt was oppressive causing her suicide. Macbeth’s death came from his free will to ignore his fate. The witches tell Macbeth his fate through various prophecies which change Macbeth’s characterization dramatically throughout the play. He becomes overconfident in his actions as the witches relieve his worries of anybody killing him. Macbeth begins the play as a pure and caring soldier, but eventually turns into an evil tyrant. Once he fulfilled the witches’ prophecy of becoming King of Scotland, he began to misuse his control of the country. Macbeth states, “The castle of Macduff I will surprise, / seize upon Fife, give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword / His wife, his babies, and all unfortunate souls / That trace him in his line…/ This deed I’ll do before this purpose cool” (4.1.171-175). To ensure his own safety, Macbeth decided to kill anyone that is related to Macduff. A king must put his country before himself, but we see the opposite in Macbeth’s rule. Macbeth is doing everything in his power to protect himself, rather than his country. The witches’ prophecies did not specify his rule, only that he is destined to be King of Scotland, therefore it was Macbeth’s free will that he became a tyrant. We see Macbeth approaching his fate when Macduff comes to battle. During the fight, Macbeth’s last few words were, “Before my body / I throw my warlike shield. Lay on, Macduff, / And damned be him that first cries, ‘Hold! Enough!’” (5.8.37-39). Macduff had killed Macbeth, which was Macbeth’s fate. Macbeth had severely misused his power, resulting in the retaliation of his people, leading to his own death. Fate and free will were responsible for the death of Macbeth, because his unfair ruling angered the people, leading them to avenge. Macbeth, being overconfident, was not prepared for this comeback, and was consequently defeated. Macbeth’s fate was determined by his inconsiderate previous actions, or free will, which led Macduff to murder Macbeth. Fate and free will work together interchangeably to determine the deaths of Duncan, Lady Macbeth, and Macbeth. Fate is predetermined, but the way in which we reach it, is due to our free will. One’s decision will not only impact how they reach their own fate, but also other’s fate. Before making outrageous choices, one must consider the effects it may have on other people and to be mindful of everyone’s lives. Although one may not be able to change their destiny, they can still change their actions and perception to be respectful towards others. 2019-3-11-1552296886

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Fate and Free Will in Macbeth

Throughout Shakespeare's Macbeth the central characters in the play struggle to accept the concepts of fate and free will, leading to Macbeth's ultimate downfall as the play's five acts conclude.

The witches tell Macbeth and Banquo their prophecies:

Macbeth will be the Thane of Cawdor.
He will later become king of Scotland.
Banquo will be the ancestor of kings.

This prophecy is proven partially true when Ross, King Duncan's messenger, tells Macbeth he has been given the title of Thane of Cawdor.

Scene III: The Role of Fate and Free Will

The witches' prophecies indicate the presence of fate in this situation. Macbeth believes in these prophecies because of Ross's arrival and proclamation that Macbeth will be named Thane of Cawdor.

However, this prophecy leads him plot the potential overthrow of King Duncan. Though Macbeth thinks that fate is leading him to this, it is actually his own free will. His choices lead him to plot Duncan's downfall.

Lady Macbeth receives a letter from Macbeth explaining the witches' prophecies. She is hopeful at the prospect but knows that Macbeth will have to work to achieve these goals; she is not confident in his skills. Upon Macbeth's arrival, she encourages him to make a move against Duncan.

Did you know?

Though women in medieval times were often seen as oppressed and subservient, they had the potential to expand to roles of power in the church and as women in political positions, especially as royalty. They also often had great influence over their husbands and a significant authority in the household.

Scene V: The Role of Fate and Free Will

Lady Macbeth clearly understands that Macbeth cannot depend on fate to make the prophecies come true. She prods him to make the first move himself, signalling to the audience that she believes free will must lead him to commit the murder of Duncan.

Do you believe that Macbeth sincerely thinks he is fulfilling the role that fate has designated him?

Macbeth begins this scene by pondering his plot. He does not wish to have to kill Duncan but feels that he must to be able to climb the ladder to kingship. His guilt gets the better of him, leading him to tell Lady Macbeth he will not commit the murder in this scene. Lady Macbeth, however, coerces him into recommitting to the crime. The duo plan the murder to be committed the very same night.

Scene VII: The Role of Fate and Free Will

Both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth use free will throughout this scene while plotting King Duncan's murder. This is illustrated in Macbeth's admission that he has "no spur to prick the sides of [his] intent," indicating that he feels human guilt and knows what he is doing is wrong and that it is his choice. However, both approach the issue with different beliefs; Macbeth is still convinced he's carrying out the roles of fate while Lady Macbeth comprehends that free will is predominant.

Scene I opens with a conversation between Macbeth and Banquo; Banquo praises Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's hospitality towards King Duncan. Banquo breaches the topic of the witches' prophecies, which leads Macbeth to deny his motivations and ask for Banquo's loyalty. Banquo responds ambiguously and the two part for the night. Macbeth descends into a hallucination about murdering Duncan, but is pulled out of it by the ringing of Lady Macbeth's bell, meant to signal that Macbeth should be free to murder Duncan.

Scene I: The Role of Fate and Free Will

Banquo hints throughout this scene that he knows of Macbeth's plan and does not approve; he knows that this stems from Macbeth's own will and believes he has a choice in the matter. Macbeth's hallucination indicates that he personally does not want to commit the murder but that he feels he must. He sincerely continues to believe he is being guided by fate and cannot stop its processes.

Macbeth goes to kill Duncan and Lady Macbeth worries that he will fail. He says the deed is done when he comes back but is shaken and forgot to plant the daggers. Lady Macbeth tells him not to think about it so much or he will go crazy. She then takes the daggers from Macbeth and plants them on the chamberlains herself.

Scene II: The Role of Fate and Free Will

The choice to murder Duncan was the free will of Macbeth. He thought that fate wasn't enough for him to become king and thought it was necessary to secure the crown himself. However, he was convinced that he was following fate at the time; he thought that it wasn't his choice but it actually was.

Banquo begins to suspect that Macbeth is behind much of the evil that has happened throughout Scotland recently. As the prophecy continues, Macbeth begins to panic. His last resort to save his spot on the throne was to kill anyone that posed a threat to his kingship. Macbeth felt uneasy when Banquo was alive, so he convinced three murderers that Banquo was the cause of all of their woes and to kill him and his son, Fleance.

Fate says that Banquo's descendants will inherent the throne. This thought leads Macbeth to encourage the murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance. However, it was actually his own actions and free will that committed the crime and made him decide that they needed to die. Macbeth is being persuaded that fate is a necessity when it isn't really.

Lady Macbeth and Macbeth decide that "'tis safer to be that which we destroy than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy," but since they planned on having guests over soon they must act "bright and jovial" for their guests. They are confident that the murderers will not let them down, but they don't want to become too confident yet; "be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, till thou applaud the deed." They await word of Banquo and Fleance's murders.

Macbeth uses free will to hire the murderers to alter fate instead of doing it himself. They assume the job will be done correctly and Macbeth will have the throne secured. Macbeth again believes that they are following the desires of fate, but Lady Macbeth still knows better. The planning that they have done is an act of free will rather than fate.

During the banquet, the murderers return to report their actions back to Macbeth. It is bad news to Macbeth, considering that half of their mission failed; Fleance fled before he could be killed. Soon after, the Ghost of Banquo enters the scene and takes Macbeth's place at the table. His hallucinations and odd actions, being affected by the Ghost, scares the guests and forces Lady Macbeth to try and explain her husband's actions. At the end of the scene, Macbeth decides on his own that from now on he needs to act before thoroughly thinking about his actions, so that he won't back out.

Scene IV: The Role of Fate and Free Will

It is fate that Fleance fled. The prophecy said that Banquo's descendants would inherent the throne and this could only happen if Fleance escaped the murderers. This is the primary reason that Macbeth chose to have Fleance murdered; fate led Fleance to escape but Macbeth freely chose to make the attempt on Fleance's life. This leaves a chance that Macbeth will still lose the crown to Banquo's sons, which succeeds in making him even more paranoid.

Sons usually inherited the throne from their father. However, if there was no son, a brother or cousin to the king often became heir apparent. Women were rarely given the position and any male relative would be before them in line to the throne.

The original three witches were in a cave, conjuring a spell. Macbeth joins them shortly and demands that they give him more information regarding the prophecy. Three horrid apparitions appear and give Macbeth information that soothes his fears, making him more confident about the upcoming battle. At the end of the scene Macbeth is told about Macduff's absence and then decides to murder Lady Macduff and her children.

Macbeth trusts in the role of fate as he demands to hear about his future from the three witches. However, he has become more confident in himself and demands that they "call 'em, let me see 'em," instead of solely trusting the witches' word. The three apparitions represent the fate that he so desires, but his choice to have Lady Macduff and her children executed is an act of free will.

Malcolm lies to Macduff by telling him he is unfit to be king, but he is actually just seeing if Macduff is trustworthy. Macduff says Malcolm would still be a better king than Macbeth but eventually his loyalty to Scotland leads him to agree that Malcolm would be an unfit king. This proves to Malcolm that Macduff is trustworthy and loyal and promptly tells him that he was lying. The two become allies. Ross then enters and tells Macduff his family is safe along with convincing Malcolm to return to Scotland. Eventually Ross breaks down and tells Macduff his family was murdered and Malcolm assures him that he will get his revenge on Macbeth.

It was Macbeth's free will to have Macduff's family killed. This gives Macduff motivation to murder Macbeth and help Malcolm save Scotland. All of this leads to Macbeth's fate, which is his murder by a man not born from a woman, only when the Birnam Wood moves. It's Macbeth's free will to let these things happen; if he had not treated so many people cruelly, they would not be threatening his reign or trying to take his crown.

Who said the following quote?

"Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell.

Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace,

Yet grace must still look so."

Because of the recent news that Macbeth heard from the witches, Macbeth is not preparing for battle as he should be. He says "'till Birnam Wood remove to Dunsinane I cannot taint with fear," and then proceeds to "fight 'till from my bones my flesh be hacked." Macbeth is hesitant to listen to the cautious advice of others until his servant, Seyton, tells Macbeth that there are more soldiers coming than they originally expected. Later on, the doctor tells Macbeth of his wife's troubles and "frequent hallucinations," but Macbeth is too rooted in his own war issues to give much consideration to the treatment of his wife and tells the doctor to heal her himself.

Macbeth's free will led him to have too much confidence. In saying that he will not be affected by fear, he does not well enough prepare himself for the war. This is his own choice even though he was told he could not be killed by a man born of a woman; it is his decision to acknowledge the prophecy and rely on its validity. Because of this, Macbeth is ill-prepared and therefore not ready for the battle. Macbeth is bringing his own downfall upon himself by relying too heavily on the prophecies.

The closer the fighting gets, the more confident and bossy Macbeth's actions become. Screams from inside came from Lady Macbeth, and she is found dead shortly thereafter. Macbeth is so busy and preoccupied that he is slightly insensitive, but concludes that life is "a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." As if destruction was a catalyst for even more destruction, Macbeth was told about "a moving grove." The prophecy was coming true, seeing that the Birnam Wood was coming to Dunsinane, but this definitely was not something that Macbeth wanted to happen.

Macbeth's choice to ignore Lady Macbeth's illnesses ultimately led to her death. However, after the revelation of her death, he gets word that Birnam Wood is moving. He allows this to intimidate him, beginning to lose confidence in his ability as King. However, he allows this to intimidate him, which is a choice of free will. Since he chose to do this, he could have prevented the ultimate loss of confidence and weakness that he experiences by choosing to believe in his own power instead of conceding that he may lose because of the prophecies that he has received.

Macbeth and Macduff finally come face to face and battle while exchanging words. Macbeth realizes that Macduff was born from a Cesarean section, not naturally by his mother. He then believes that Macduff will be the one to kill him and no longer has confidence: "I’ll not fight with thee." Macduff then murders Macbeth and cuts off his head. Malcolm becomes king after Macbeth is killed, effectively completing Macbeth's downfall and decline as a ruler.

Scene VIII: The Role of Fate and Free Will

It was fate for Macbeth to be killed by a man not born from a woman. When he finds out that Macduff meets these requirements, he loses hope. It was his free will to believe the prophecy and lose the confidence needed to win the battle against Macduff. Ultimately, his choice to believe in fate leads to his downfall and demise as King of Scotland.

The roles of fate and free will in Macbeth ultimately led to Macbeth's downfall. Though fate guides Macbeth's thinking, he freely chooses to commit the atrocities that he did. His reliance and trust in fate made him overly confident in his standing; however, following this path drove away his constituents, finally causing them to rebel.

Even throughout the battle, Macbeth continues to rely on fate to preserve his standing as king. He is too confident that fate is on his side, though, making him vulnerable to attacks, including Macduff's. The battle follows the prophecies of the witches, making Macbeth feel secure, but the prophecies continue to come true, finally leading to Macbeth's death. Though free will is used to accomplish the goals outlined in the prophecies, fate drives the process.

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Fate, Free Will, and the Tragedy of Macbeth

In his review of Macbeth , by William Shakespeare, Dr Aidan Elliott, PhD considers a key theme in the tragedy, Fate and Free Will. The play was probably first performed in 1606 before King James I of England (1603-1625), who was also James VI of Scotland (1567 – 1625). The king was a patron of Shakespeare’s acting company and would have been very interested in the story of a brave Scottish general, Macbeth, who became consumed with ambition after he heard a prophecy from a trio of witches that he would become King of Scotland.

The tension between Fate and Free Will would also have been of interest to James I because there was an important theological debate raging in Christendom over the Sovereignty of God and man’s Free Will. The Church of England, which embraced the teachings of the Reformers on this matter, was being challenged by the teachings of Jacob Arminius, a Dutch theologian.

Not surprisingly, The Tragedy of Macbeth reinforces the view of King James I that he had been appointed by God to rule. Any opposition to the will of the king might very well have a bloody ending, much like Macbeth experienced in the play.

The theory of the Divine Right of the King was believed to be essential for stability in society. No disruptive opposition to the crown was to be tolerated. The king had a Divine Right to rule as he saw fit.

Fate Defined

As Dr. Elliot considers the tension between Fate and Free Will in Macbeth, he begins his observations by defining Fate.

“Fate refers to events outside a person’s control, predetermined by a supernatural power.” Theologians call this supernatural power the sovereignty of God.

Important questions arise.

“Are the events in the play predetermined by a supernatural power?”

“Are the events outside a person’s control?”

“Is Macbeth a puppet of Fate?”

“Does Macbeth exercise his own Free Will?”

“What is the evidence?”

It can be noted that Fate, meaning supernatural power, is reflected in the Three Witches called, the Weird Sisters. These women are not odd, peculiar, or strange; they were the embodiment of Fate, or Destiney. The Weird Sisters foretell the Fate of Macbeth, with total accuracy, which indicates a predetermination of all that was to come to pass.

Theologians would say the Weird Sisters expressed Foreknowledge of Divine Certainty. What they said would come to pass. It was Foreordained to happen.

The Witches spoke to the Scottish military Thane (General), and said:

“All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis. All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor. All hail Macbeth, that shall be king hereafter.”

~Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3, Lines 66-68

The anaphor, or repetition of the phrase, “All hail Macbeth”, makes a connection between three ideas. Macbeth is the Thane of Glamis. Macbeth is the Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth shall certainly be king of Scotland. It is without question.

Shortly after the Three Witches spoke, Macbeth received word that indeed he had been made king of Cawdor. The Weird Sisters were right. How did they know? It was his Fate.

When Macbeth discovered the Three Witches had been right in what they said, an ember of ambition began to burn in his soul that would soon enflame the totality of his being.

As Macbeth considered his future, his friend, Banquo, began to wonder about his own future, his own Fate. What was to be his destiny? The Three Witches were able to give him an answer.

“Thou shall get kings, though he be none.”

~Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3, Line 65

Banquo was told that he would beget many children who would become kings of Scotland, but he would never personally be king. That was his Fate. It was a fixed certainty.

Since Banquo can never become king, he cannot use his Free Will to manipulate events. It would be to no avail.

In contrast, since Macbeth was told that he would become king, he could act upon that information, or, he could passively wait for it to happen.

Initially, Macbeth was skeptical.

“…to be king Stands not within the prospect of belief.”

~Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3, Lines 71-72

The reason why Macbeth thought it was impossible to become king, was because of the current belief that kings were appointed by God. King Duncan of Scotland will only be replaced when he dies.

So, either Duncan can appoint Macbeth to succeed him as king, or, Macbeth can seize the throne by force.

“My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man that functions smothered in surmise.”

~ Macbeth, Acts 1, Scene 3, Lines 138-140

Macbeth confesses to imagining murdering Duncan, King of Scotland. Macbeth was contemplating regicide, believed at that time to be the vilest act a human can commit, killing the Divine ruler.

His murderous thought was so fantastic, Macbeth felt paralyzed. He could not function properly, much like Scotland, or any state, which becomes immobilized when the mind is divided as to what should be done. Macbeth wants to kill Duncan, but he cannot bring himself to do such a dreadful deed. Murder is morally wrong.

Another thought comes to Macbeth which gives him a momentary ray of hope.

“If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me Without my stir.”

~Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3, Line 142-143

Macbeth hopes that Fate will make him king without him taking any action. He does not want to exercise his Free Will to determine an outcome.

At this moment, Duncan surprises Macbeth with the news that he has decided upon an heir to the throne.

“We will establish our estate upon Our eldest, Malcolm.”

~Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 4, Lines 137-138

The situation suddenly became intolerable for Macbeth. He now had two men between himself and the throne. He had to remove Duncan, and he had to remove Malcolm. Macbeth feels that he must do something, or the throne shall be lost. He must act upon the information he has received. He must exercise his will in this matter.

To encourage her husband to move towards regicide, Lady Macbeth appears, and speaks.

“Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be What thou are promised.”

~Act 1, Scene 5, Lines 13-14

By using the word “shalt”, Lady Macbeth is expressing her own certainty of any dark deeds against the king and the royal family.

Despite her own certainty, Lady Macbeth believes her husband is weak, and so, she attacks his manhood in order to motivate him to commit a despicable deed.

“Yet I do fear thy nature, It is too full of the milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way.”

~Macbeth, Acts 1, Scene 5, Line 14-16

The milk of human kindness suggests tenderness, as a mother feeds her baby at her breast. Lady Macbeth believes her husband is too sensitive, too weak, and too indecisive to “catch the nearest way” to the throne, which would be to murder Duncan.

The irony is that Macbeth is a gifted and heroic warrior. He is use to killing people. He is familiar with the bloody carnage of warfare, and yet, he is accused of being too civilized to act in immoral way. Fighting to defend king and country is morally right. Trying to destroy both for personal ambition is morally wrong.

The choice Macbeth faces is whether or not he will move, of his own Free Will, from being a moral person, to being an immoral person. Will he, of his own Free Will, sacrifice virtue and cavity on the altar of personal ambition?

Free Will Defined

It is at this point that Free Will needs to be defined. Dr. Elliott does not define Free Will, which is probably just as well because there is a popular, but pagan, definition of this term.

The most widely prevalent view of Free Will is the Humanist View. Free will is commonly defined as the ability to make choices spontaneously . These choices are not determined by any prior conditions, prejudices, inclination, or disposition.

In contrast, The Tragedy of Macbeth teaches that the choices a person makes are not spontaneous, for there is always an influence on the will. The strongest influence on the will determines what shall be done.

Left to himself, Macbeth was in such an agitated state that he was immobilized from acting. So, what moved the General to act one way instead of another? The answer is easy to discern.

The words of Lady Macbeth questioning her husband’s courage, and manhood, moved his will to commit regicide.

The murder of Duncan, and others, was not a spontaneous action.

Their murder was a cold and calculating response to an assault on his personal pride, and his own personal ambition.

Macbeth could not say, “The Devil made me do it.”

He could not say he had no choice in the matter; he did.

Macbeth could not say he was a puppet on a string.

He could not defend his behavior by whining that he was weak, and a victim of his wife’s nagging.

No, of his own Free Will, Macbeth acted, and in his action fulfilled the Fate he was foretold.

Macbeth could not rail against Fate, any more than any person has a right to rail against God for the choices they make, that ultimately conform to what the Lord has predetermined shall come to pass.

On the Day of Pentecost Peter spoke of Jesus “being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God”, who was “taken by wicked hands” and was crucified and slain (Acts 2:23). Fate, or Predestination, is not incompatible with Free Will, or the choices individuals gladly make.

Macbeth was self-aware that he was violating his conscience. The Bible teaches the conscience can be seared, like a cauterized flesh wound so that it is no longer sensitive.

Said Macbeth,

“If th’assassination Could trammel up the consequence and catch With his surcease, success.

~Macbeth, Acts 1, Scene 7, Lines 2-4

Macbeth understood there was a Cause, and Effect, relation to his choices, which he wanted to be interrupted.

He wanted to kill Duncan, without any bad consequences, such as a feeling of guilt, the loss of respect in society, or protest from the legitimate heirs of Duncan to the throne. He wanted Malcom to be quiet, and if he would not be silent, Macbeth was willing to kill him too.

Macbeth wanted to “trammel”, or catch in a net, the results of his wicked actions, so that they did not interfere with his success in seizing the throne.

In like manner, individuals want to exercise their own Free Will independent of God, but without the consequences He has foreordained as the penalty for sin. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). There is physical death; there is an eternal death. Individuals freely chose their own destinies, and then rail against God for working all things together after the counsel of His own will (Eph. 1:11).

It is not uncommon, when a person does something wrong, but does not want to be held accountable, to say they were but “puppets on a string”, just like Macbeth. Individuals are desperate to avoid accepting any responsibility,

Macbeth wanted to sin without a guilty conscience; he wanted no Savior; he wanted no God to confess to. Macbeth wanted a throne, but no cross. He wanted heaven on earth, even if that meant murder, without any negative consequences. Macbeth wanted Duncan to surcease , or die, and he wanted his own success , being king, to prevail.

By using the word “If”, Macbeth knew that all choices have consequences. Macbeth freely chose to do wrong. In his mind, at that moment, he would pay any price to satisfy his ambition. Such is that nature of sin that blinds the mind, soils the soul, and enslaves the totality of a person. Macbeth knew in his heart he had no-one to blame but himself.

“Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand?”

~Macbeth, Acts 2, Scene 1, Line 33-34

“It is a dagger, Macbeth, and with your own Free Will you took it, and sealed your Fate.”

______________

* While the dialogue in Macbeth is the product of Shakespeare’s fertile imagination, there was a real Macbeth, King of Scotland, in the 11 th century. He took the throne after his cousin Duncan I died in battle in AD 1040.

Holinshed’s Chronicles (1587) is the historical source for Shakespeare’s literary narrative of Macbeth, King of Scotland, Macduff, and Duncan.

The Gunpowder Plot (1605), and the execution of Henry Garnet, are also believed to have influenced the play.

“Fate and Free Will in Macbeth: Key Quotes & Analysis”, Dr Aidan, PhD (You Tube)

Macbeth and The Prince: Fate Vs Free Will Portrayal

Categories: Macbeth The Prince William Shakespeare

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Published: Aug 4, 2023

Words: 1157 | Pages: 3 | 6 min read

Introduction, the role of fate and free will in macbeth, machiavelli's economy of violence, balancing violence and virtue in the prince, works cited.

Aydın, Can. 'Fate and Freedom in Shakespeare.' Accessed from: https://www.academia.edu/29784209/Fate_and_Freedom_in_Shakespeare

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