Essay On The Role Of Fate In Macbeth

The tragic downfall is a common plot element used in tragedies. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth this rings true as a noble man is engrossed with blind ambition and becomes a tyrant. Shakespeare uses witches and fate to lead Macbeth to his own downfall and demise. The witches use prophecies to entice Macbeth that what he is doing is right and everything will work out in his favor. The prophecies also affect other characters into persuading him into committing acts that he normally would not do if it weren’t for the false hope that the witches had given him. In Act one the King hears of Macbeth 's noble deed in battle and awards him by making him the Thane of Cawdor. In the very next scene Macbeth and Banquo are visited by the witches who great Macbeth with “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to the Thane of Cawdor!” (I.iii.49). Macbeth is in doubt of the prophecy, but once he is formally given his title by Ross, he believes that the witches’ prophecy has come true. But

After Macbeth is given a second set of prophecies he gets a false sense of security that no harm will come to him unless two seemingly impossible things happen. One of these was that no one born of woman could harm Macbeth. Macbeth was skeptical of the prophecy at first, which is why he wanted Macduff and his family murdered, but once he went into battle he embraced it. After slaying Young Sidward, Macbeth gains his confidence that nobody can hurt him, even Macduff whom he was warned about: “I bear a charmed life, which must not yield To one of woman born” (V.vii.11-13). Once Macduff explains that he was not of woman born, Macbeth gives up and refuses to fight. If the witches had not given Macbeth a false sense of security with the prophecy Macbeth might have been more cautious in his actions. Also it might have kept Macbeth from giving up and accepting defeat and he probably could have beaten Macduff in