Macbeth Essay

Prompt: In Shakespeare's Macbeth man's perception of fate affects man's actions. In a carefully organized essay discuss how Shakespeare uses the device of characterization to clarify this perception and drive the action forward.

Since their existence, man has always questioned the existence of a higher power controlling them with predestined fate. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, this concept is explored as Shakespeare uses the device of characterization to emphasize his views and drive the plot of the play. By using the three essential characters Lady Macbeth, and Macbeth and the three witches, Shakespeare elegantly weaves the theme of fate into Macbeth.

Shakespeare uses Lady Macbeth’s character to drive the plot forward. Immediately after she hears about the prophecy of the witches, she persuades her husband to do all necessary actions to seize the title of King of Scotland, even kill Duncan. As shown in Act I Scene 7, Lady Macbeth is even dominant over her husband as the role reversal shows her determination and power. Because of her, Macbeth eventually takes up the “dark deed” which triggers the chain of events that they both cannot turn back upon. Lady Macbeth also continues to provide comfort to Macbeth’s guilt, acting as a negative conscience, until she too is overcome with guilt and falls into insanity at the end of the play. In this aspect, Lady Macbeth pushes her husband, constantly driving the plot, and is one piece of the puzzle that results in the tragedy of Macbeth

Not only does Shakespeare use characters to drive the plot, but he also uses them to portray his theme of fate. Using the relationship between the witches and Macbeth, Shakespeare shows that man’s perception of fate affects man’s actions. When the witches tell Macbeth that he will one day become King of Scotland, his ambitions begin to rise after the first prophecy of him being thane of Cawdor comes true. When he believes that it is fated for him to become the most powerful in Scotland, he carries out with his wife’s insidious crime to grasp the title, believing that all his acts are justifiable. This thought also carries to the end of the play when Macbeth encounters the witches a second time. Upon hearing that he shall not fear until Birnam wood comes to Dunsinane and that he can not be killed by one “of woman born,” his confidence is unmatchable. However, the witches have twisted the meanings of the prophecies and Macbeth, who had misinterpreted them, meets his tragic downfall and death.

The play Macbeth effectively uses the devices of characterization to both drive the plot and emphasize theme. Using this technique, Shakespeare communicates to the audience that fate can be a dangerous topic and that many individuals are responsible for shaping the outcome of events.

-Gavin Tse P.4 Asher