Libby Rainey - P3 T6 Macbeth Essay

Fate is merely an idea until human action fulfills its prophecy. Playwright William Shakespeare exposes this truth through characterization in Macbeth. Lady Macbeth’s stubborn persistence and drive to fulfill the witches’ predictions and Macbeth’s paranoid attempts to escape his own supposed fate drive them both to unfortunate ends, thus proving that belief in fate often pushes it to be true. Shakespeare’s characters illustrate the undeniable tie between human nature and fate’s implementation, and the dangerous situations that this link can lead to.

From her moment of introduction, Lady Macbeth is portrayed as a strong character of questionable integrity; she will twist her husband’s arm as much as she needs to in order to get her way. In this case, this means plotting murder to insure that the prediction of Macbeth’s kingship becomes reality. She recognizes her powers of persuasion, and even says in an apostrophe directed at her husband, “Hie thee thither, that I may pour my spirits in thine ear, and chastise with the valour of my tongue all that impedes thee from the golden round, which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem to have thee crowned withal.” She plans to direct her weak husband in order to gain power for both of them. Her comments clearly indicate the pure force of her personality, and her knowledge of that force. Her determined and ruthless attitude allows Shakespeare to drive the plot quickly to Duncan’s murder. This initial act of violence leads to a subsequent tangled web of conflicts, all which are shaped and propelled by Lady Macbeth’s perception of her husband’s fate. Lady Macbeth’s iron will and power-hungry disposition take a shaky assumption and make it an assured reality, and thus Shakespeare illustrates that fate is nothing without humans that believe in its existence.

This message of fate’s frailty without belief is further enforced later in the play, when Macbeth’s future takes a turn for the worse, according to the witches, and he responds to their predictions with paranoia and panic. Acting to avoid his fate, as it no longer looks favorable, Macbeth plays right into the hands of his prescribed future by ordering Banquo’s and Fleance’s deaths. Not only do his actions lead to Banquo’s death, therefore making Fleance the next in line for the throne as the witches predicted, but he also provokes those beneath him with his unhealthy behavior, causing them to plan to revolt against him, exactly what he was trying to avoid. His complete belief that fate is unavoidable causes him to catalyze his unfortunate end, and thus his fearful and obsessed state of mind enable Shakespeare to both cement his message of fate’s dependence on humanity and bring Macbeth to a startling and dramatic end point.

Lady Macbeth and Macbeth both are fooled by the temptations of fate, and therefore act in ways that undoubtedly illustrate Shakespeare’s message: man’s perception of fate drives men’s action, and in turn proves that fate to be true. Their character flaws and the actions that result from their shortcomings drive Macbeth’s plot and message.