Free Will In Macbeth

In the play Macbeth, By William Shakespeare, the main character, Macbeth, is heavily influenced by evil witches and his own greedy wife; it seems at times that Macbeth does not make his own decisions, however, Macbeth thinks thoroughly about his actions both before and after. Macbeth shows his free will in the beginning of the play by contemplating his destiny after hearing a prophecy from the three weird sisters. The three weird sisters hail him as thane of Glamis and Cawdor and also as the future King. Since the weird sisters were right about the first two parts of the prophecy Macbeth knew the last one would come to pass as well. The part he did not know was how it would happen. He spent some time contemplating on if he could become king without any violence. He finally decided that for his destiny to be fulfilled he would have to murder King Duncan.

“Two truths are told, as happy prologues to the swelling act

Present fears Are less than horrible imaginings. My thought, whose murder yet is fantastical,

Shakes so my single state of man That function is smothered in surmise,

And nothing is but what is not.”(I.iii.129-144)

This quote is the very first time he starts to think about murdering King Duncan. He never really likes the idea of killing anyone but that just means that once upon a time he was a decent person, not that he has no control of his life. His next action is then to send a letter to his wife telling her of the things that the witches prophesized, and what he plans to do with that information. “’They met me in the day of success, and I have learned by the perfectest report they have more in them than mortal knowledge…

This have I thought good to deliver thee, my dearest

Partner of greatness, that thou might’st not lose the

Dues of rejoicing, by being ignorant of what greatness

Is promised thee. Lay it to thy heart, and