Free Will In Shakespeare's 'Lady Macbeth'

During the age of Shakespeare, women were regarded as unimportant and had no say in society or the household. The relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is the definition of a backward stereotypical relationship. Lady Macbeth is the potentate, while Macbeth listens to her and is very easily influenced by his surroundings. She has the highest influence in his life, urging him to commit murder and manipulating him into a blood-thirsty monster. After all the convincing and pressuring Macbeth finally gives in, but these are all actions of his own and is the result of his free will. In the end there is nobody else to blame but himself for the choices he has made. Furthermore, Macbeth is challenged once the witches foreshadow his future and gives him a glimpse of his glory. His kinsmen remind him to be more wise when considering the words of the witches. He had the choice to ignore all of the predictions but he starts to question his fate. He claims that “If chance will have me King, why, chance may crown me, / Without my stir” (I.IV.144-145) and appears to be unphased by the witches predictions. His words don’t reflect his thoughts, as seen later throughout the story. On the other hand Banquo is aware that believing the prophecy is free will, but Macbeth’s crave for power is stronger than his will. When Macbeth notifies his wife about the strange news, she sees

He freely decides to choose evil over good for the beneficial life in the near future. Macbeth tried to hold himself back, but after a few persuading words from his wife he allows his mind to turn into a vicious murder. He is the one who gets himself killed and betrayed his morals thus leading his fate astray. The actions he took were the result of free will and he was willing to pay a price at the end of his life when he realizes he did all of this damage and there is nobody to blame but