The Victim of Fate Throughout the ages it is believed fate, by some uncontrollable force, has the power to forge one’s destiny. The outcome of a person’s choices is controlled by the way in which they are fated to occur. However, some believe these choices can defy fate and that fate only manipulates one’s mind into choosing their own path. The question still remains as to whether individuals are victims of fate or of their own choices, or if each aspect plays a significant part in determining their destiny.
In the play Macbeth, writer William Shakespeare plays with this idea of fate, placing Macbeth’s destiny before him, yet allowing his own ambitions and idealistic views to drive himself crazy in order to achieve it. Macbeth is ultimately used by Shakespeare to fight the battle of his own manifestation and lay claim to what is foretold as his, but fate it seems, is not always as clear as Macbeth first thought. The level of freedom Macbeth has in deciding his fate is accentuated by the prophecy that portends its existence. The ambiguous nature of the prophecy: According to Macbeth, “All hail, Macbeth!
Hail to thee, Thane of /Glamis! ” (327) “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of /Cawdor! ” (327) “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King /hereafter! ” (327) Macbeth’s past, present and future as foretold by the Three Witches. Macbeth was destined to become Cawdor, and then by some means king. However, the process Macbeth undertakes to become king may not be the most accurate process to take. Indeed, the witches neither force nor even suggest to Macbeth that he should murder Duncan and even he considers that. Macbeth’s attraction to the knowledge of his future caused him to be dependent on news that never even happened.
The witches tease Macbeth by offering him compelling prophecies they know he will relish. They then trick him by gaining his dependence on their prophecies all the while planning to spend unto a dismal and fatal end the life of Macbeth. Macbeth was so excited on the thought of being king that he listened to an unreliable source. He became so dependent on the witches prophecies that he would murder anyone who the witches said were in his way to the throne. He soon began reassuring himself he would be fine because of the witches’ prophecies. He relied more on the prophecies than human logic and understanding.
His increasing vulnerability makes him more bitter and helpless as he tries to keep hope in his efforts toward the throne. Macbeth becomes even more dependent on the witches and when they give him bad news he curses them saying, According to Macbeth, “I will be satisfied. Deny me this, and an external curse will fall on you! ” (383). Macbeth has reached his lowest form of desperation and tries to sustain any chance of him still being king. He curses the witches and continues to remind himself the prophecy will live on. The prophecy is all Macbeth has left and if that goes, all chance of his kingship diminishes.
According to Macbeth, “If chance will have me King, why, Chance may crown me, Without my stir. ” (331) Therefore Macbeth’s decision to catch the nearest way to the prophecies completion is one made entirely on his own as far as fate is concerned. This decision is one that effectively leads to his downfall, if the prophecy been completed in a different manner the aspects of fate dependent on Macbeth’s action in killing Duncan. Fate, the power thought to control all events, even a person’s destiny. If the concept of fate is true, the outcome of a person’s life is inevitable.
From the moment of birth, your life has already been planned before you, and you are helpless to change it. Was Macbeth a victim to fate? Did the choices he makes have any impact on the outcome of his destiny? In accordance to the play, Macbeth’s fate became a reality and ultimately his downfall. Works Cited William, Shakespeare. “The Tragedy of Macbeth. ” Prentice Hall Literature The British Tradition. Ed. Charles Youngs et al. Penguin ed. vol. 1. New Jersey: Upper Saddle River, 2010. 322-415.
