What is fate? The dictionary defines fate as a force predetermining events. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth the characters’ perceptions of fate affected their actions. Throughout the play, the story moved forward because of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s distinct views about predetermined futures. Their thoughts and comments determined their awareness of these preordained outcomes. These techniques of characterization revealed that Lady Macbeth had little to no belief in fate, while Macbeth believed in his fixed destiny.
The main characters in Macbeth demonstrated their feelings about how fate was affected through their soliloquies. For example, Lady Macbeth received a letter from her husband about the witches’ predictions towards the beginning of the play. When she said, “Stop up th’access and passage to remorse, That no compounctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between The effect and it!”(Act I Scene V) she was asking to not feel pity so that she could carry out Duncan’s murder. Because Lady Macbeth automatically assumed she had to take action in order for Macbeth to become king, she did not believe that fate alone could determine someone’s future. On the other hand, during one of Macbeth’s thoughts to himself he said, “If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, Without my stir”(Act I Scene III) which showed that he believed his future was already decided. This difference of opinion drove the story forward by creating controversy and arguments between the two.
Through their fighting and comments with one another, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth emphasized their perceptions of fate. Macbeth said, “Do you not hope your children shall be kings, When those that gave me the thane of Cawdor to me Promised no less to them?”(Act I Scene III). Macbeth assumed that he needed to take little to no action for the witches’ predictions to come true. In contrast, Lady Macbeth restated her beliefs about Macbeth’s future when she said, “Wouldst thou have that Which though esteem’st the ornament of life…”(Act I Scene VII). She felt that Macbeth would not become king unless he killed Duncan. This affirmed her strong belief that the future was not fixed. Because of Lady Macbeth’s sense that the characters needed to take action, the couple carried out Duncan’s murder and kept the action of the story moving forward.
In Macbeth it is extremely apparent that the couple had opposite feelings about fate. Through Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s thoughts and comments, their certainty about what fate is propelled the action in the play. Shakespeare’s use of characterization clarified the thoughts behind the events in the story. The variation in ideas about fate caused arguments between the main characters, as well as the murder of Duncan and the conclusion of the play.
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