Fate+vs+free+will

Fate vs. Free will in Macbeth.

In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is portrayed as a good man. Yet he commits, not one or two, but a series of bad actions and in the end he becomes a monster. What makes a good man commit murder? This theme is examined in “the tragedy of Mac Beth”.

Fate vs. free will: Does Mac Beth himself hold the responsibility for these actions, or have fate already sealed his destiny? If fate holds the responsibility, then Mac Beth can’t have any responsibility of his own. But if he holds a responsibility, then he must take the punishment for his actions in the end. Then he had it coming. I am going to argue a bit about the cause. We can see clearly in the play, that outer forces control Mac Beth. After all, the three witches prophesize that Mac Beth will become king. (1.3.4) They also know the exact circumstances of Macbeth's downfall (4.1.8), which suggests that Macbeth has no control over his own fate. But on the other hand: In the play, we clearly see Macbeth planning the murder, and then make his own (and the lady’s) choices and put his plans into action. And this is of course; his own free will. He decides it. Like in this quote: where he has made his mind up. Mac Beth: “//I am settled, and bend up// //Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.// //Away, and mock the time with fairest show:// //False face must hide what the false heart doth know.”// A third point of view suggests that he is controlled by fate, but still has the responsibility of his actions. The witches //never// say anything to Macbeth about murdering Duncan in order to make the prediction come true – Macbeth thinks of that //all on his own//. This indicates that he might get on the throne, and fate might control his destiny, but he can still with his own actions get the throne in different ways. These ways are a result of his individual actions. There are many ideas. Some say that Mac Beth is controlled by fate, some that he has his own will. Some even argue that he is controlled by Fate, but arrives at the throne in the way that he does, (through murder and sin) because of his actions, which seems very deliberate. These actions were a result of free will, but it was known from the start, how it would end. Thus: In the end, Shakespeare wisely never gives his answer to; if Mac Beth is controlled by fate, or if he is free. And this is maybe one of the reasons why the plays are still so relevant to us today. Of course because of the essential themes of power and ambition, evil and good ect., But also because he keeps them open to interpret, so that the new generations, can put their new issues and ideas into the text, and by that making it into their own.