Quotes Of Fate And Free Will In Macbeth

In Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth, Macbeth was a victim of both free will and fate. One

was not more predominant than the other. It seemed as if Macbeth was just following his

destiny at first, but he had a chance to change his fate. It was his lust for power that leads

him to doom through his own free will.

In Act I, the three witches visit Macbeth and Banquo on the heath. The witches

make three predictions; past, present, future. Macbeth is Thane Of Glamis, he will be the

Thane of Cawdor, and then he will become King, and Banquo's sons will become king but

not Banquo. Later in the same scene, Ross and Angus meet Macbeth. They tell Macbeth

that he is now the Thane of Cawdor by Duncan's command. Almost immediately after the

witches have visited him, Macbeth begins to

Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell That summons thee

to heaven or to hell." (II, i, 70-72). He had killed the king to fulfill his lust-filled greed.

That was the works of free will. The witches never foretold of what he had to do to

become king, Macbeth chose that for himself.

What are the odds that the witches new where exactly to meet him and how to

corrupt him in Act 1 Scene 3? It was 1 to 1 odds. It was inevitable; it was fate that the

witches would be there on the heath as Macbeth was passing with Banquo. It is almost as

if his days of end were starting right there before him; his nail in the cross to say in a way.

They were there for a reason. To corrupt his soul for whatever wicked purpose they found

fit. Later on in the play the witches return and show him these apparitions with tales of

warning. The first apparition says, "Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff;

Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough" (IV, i, 78-79). Then the witches show him

the second apparition, he states "Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn The