How Does Shakespeare Make Macbeth's Decisions

Through the meeting of the witches he learns many things about his future, including a supposed invincibility. The witches tell him that no man of woman born will be able to harm him, which means he should not have to fear his death. Even with this reassurance, he still proceeds to make an unnecessary decision, he decides to have Macduff killed. He knows that Macduff does not want him to stay on the throne and that Macduff intends on overthrowing him as king. He also knows that he has nothing to fear because Macduff is a man. But he still chooses to have Macduff murdered, just so that he can feel more secure in his crown (Mac.IV.i 82-86). This shows that despite the influences of the witches and the truths that they tell him, he still makes these choices of his own accord.

It is all a matter of choice for him, and he is making all of these malevolent decisions that are going to have repercussion. He then gets met by one of his men who informs him that Macduff is in England plotting to overthrow him, and in a fit of rage Macbeth decides to have all of Macduff’s family and servants murdered in place of Macduff (MAc.IV.i 150-156). This is a choice that he makes because he feels as if he needs to have revenge on someone who is not loyal to him, but the wife and children have Macduff have done nothing wrong. Thinking that he cannot truly be harmed by anyone should make it more clear to him how harmless these people are, and influence him to have mercy. But, Macbeth is stubborn and very strong-willed, so he has proceeds to have them killed. This decision is one that makes Macduff want revenge, and in turn shows the audience that the decision’s Macbeth makes all of his own accord are the ones that lead to his