Fate and free will

Key idea 1

Macbeth is manipulated by the equivocation of the witches into believing his actions are fated

Key idea 2

Macbeth's decisions are his own, despite being manipulated into believing they were fated, and his own free will

Key idea 3

Macbeth's trust in fate ultimately led him down a path of poor decisions that led to his downfall

The witches manipulate Macbeth into believing he will be king

"All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!"

Macbeth decides to believe in the witches' prophecy and fate

"If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me without my stir" Macbeth 1.3

Macbeth knows that he himself killed Duncan, although refusing to fully acknowledge it

"I have done the deed"

"To know my deed twere best not know myself"

Macbeth 2.2

Macbeth feels increasingly trapped by his decisions

"But now I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in to saucy doubts and fears"

Macbeth realises his decisions due to his own free will have led him down an inescapable path of violence

"I am in blood stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as to go o'er"

Macbeth realises that his actions are of his own free will, and he is responsible for them

"My soul is too much charged with blood of thine already"

Macbeth realises that the witches had manipulated him into poor decisions in the name of fate

"be these juggling fiends no more believed that palter with us in a double sense"

Macbeth tries to regain control at the end of the play

"Blow wind, come wrack, at least we'll die with harness on our back."

Belief in fated safety will lead to one's downfall

"security is a mortal's chiefest enemy" Hecate

Macbeth is tricked by the witches into believing he is fated to never be killed

"for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth" Second Apparition 4.1

Macbeth's fated invincibility was a trick from the witches

"Macduff was from his mother's womb untimely ripped" Macduff 5.8

Macbeth feels powerless and nihilistic, believing life is pointless and fateful

"Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more."