Is a person’s fate determined by himself or by forces outside of his control? ENG 2D8
Ms. Lynett
November 16, 2009
705 words
Arth Patel
Humans are a social species whose personalities are dependent on their surroundings. In the Shakespearean play, Macbeth, Macbeth was influenced by his wife and by the witches to become more ruthless, evil, and murderous as the play progresses. They planted the seed of evil in Macbeth's head that eventually consumed him. Through the Withes and Lady Macbeth, Shakespeare gives insight on how one’s fate is not determined by his own free will, but rather by external forces.
The withes helped Macbeth rise to power but were also the cause of his demise. In order to harm Macbeth, they told him the prophecies so Macbeth could take further actions to make them come true. They told him, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (Act 1, scene 3, lines 51-53) These prophecies poisoned his mind by making him greedy, and bringing out his evil qualities. When the second prophesy is proven true, Macbeth even considered killing Duncan. In order to save Macbeth from the Witches’, Banquo warned Macbeth, “ And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s In deepest consequence.”(Act 1, scene 3, lines 135-138) Banquo warned his friend about the witches because what seems fair could actually be the work of something foul. However Macbeth was already under the control of the withes and his fate was in the hand of the witches. By making Macbeth feel invincible, the witches are able to control and manipulate Macbeth. They apparitions told Macbeth, ““Be bloody, bold, and resolute, Laugh to scorn the power of man, for none born of woman shall harm Macbeth… Be lion-mettled, proud and take no care of who chafes, who frets, or where conspires are: Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him.” (Act 4, scene 1, lines 90-92, 103-104). After hearing this, Macbeth feels assured because he assumes everyone is born of a woman, and trees cannot walk. He does not realize Macduff did not have a natural birth and the English camouflaged themselves as trees. The witches fill Macbeth with a false sense of confidence and this leads to his eventual downfall.
