MacBeth Essay

Laura Lussier
Period 1
December 7, 2011

Macbeth Timed-Essay

In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the perception of fate is a motif that weaves throughout the plot. This perception is clarified through Shakespeare’s characterization. The concept of fate drives the plot forward and exists as a catalyst for the turmoil that unravels throughout the play. Specifically, Shakespeare’s characterization of Macbeth shows the dramatic role that fate plays.
In Macbeth, Macbeth receives a prophecy of his future from three deviously mysterious witches. Having only modest ambition before this prophecy was made, Macbeth turned to a life of greed with an unquenchable thirst for power. Macbeth received a new perception of fate from the witches. His fate, according to Macbeth, was something that was inevitable to fulfill. Macbeth opened his eyes welcomingly to fate because it was a fate that he desired for himself. This shows that Macbeth is willing to believe in fate as long as it has desirable and self fulfilling results. Shakespeare uses Macbeth’s actions to deliver this point. In plotting the murder of King Duncan, Macbeth struggles between his opportunity to seize the crown, and the possibility that he will receive punishment for the murder he is to commit. After much aggressive prompting by Lady Macbeth, Macbeth decides that he will follow through with the plans he has made to murder King Duncan. Macbeth ultimately comes upon this conclusion because he realizes that if he is to carry out the murder, he will fulfill his fate. It is not only the harsh persuasive words of Lady Macbeth that encourage Macbeth to take the king’s life. Instead, Macbeth is mainly driven by his desire to carry out his fate. This new idea of fate that Macbeth now has is what has driven him to consider the murder to begin with. Without the witches’ prophecy, Macbeth would not have had this new definition of fate. Without this new definition of fate, Macbeth would not be considering the murder. This shows that Macbeth’s perception of fate, shown through his intended actions, drives the action forward through the play. The murder is what turns the page to the next set of actions. Macbeth’s perception of fate causes him to commit murder, which is the slippery slope to the rest of the play. King Duncan’s murder is the first step in a long line of greed and bloodshed that is to be committed under Macbeth’s rule. King Duncan’s murder, brought upon by Macbeth’s perception of fate, is Macbeth’s first obstacle in achieving his true potential.
Macbeth continues to allow his actions to fall victim to his perception of fate. Shakespeare is keen to express this downfall through the characterization of Macbeth. In addition to his actions revealing Macbeth’s perception of fate, Macbeth’s reactions convey his ideology as well. Macbeth, now with much blood on his hands, faces the outraged victims of his wrath. In a final battle, Macbeth greets his subjects and citizens with a sword, all the while heeding the prophecies of the witches. The witches had warned Macbeth that only a man who is not born of a woman will be able to kill Macbeth. Macbeth uses this information to fuel his confidence and to bask in his fate. Macbeth is committed to believing this fate because he believes that it works to his advantage. Macbeth is therefore overconfident when he meets the ambush of his citizens. He believes that his fate is on his side. However, amidst his battle with Macduff, he is informed that Macduff was not born of his mother, but was rather delivered through cesarean section. Macduff forges a loophole through the witches’ prophecy and shatters Macbeth’s confidence. Macbeth’s perception of fate had been built up from the time he first received the witches’ warnings. Since then, he has been fulfilling each prophecy the witches made, proving their words to be true. Macbeth was therefore certain in his perception of fate; he did not believe that anything could overcome it. Macbeth’s perception was that he would always benefit from his fate. This perception is altered at Macduff’s story of birth. Macbeth now believes that fate exists, but that it doesn’t always work to his advantage. He comes to face the fact that Macduff has been chosen to end Macbeth’s life. Macbeth reacts to his new perception of fate brought upon by Macduff’s news and prepares to die. He does not surrender, but instead fights with a voice in the back of his head worrying over his impending death. This characterization drives the action forward through the play. Macbeth’s reaction to Macduff shows that his end is near; Macbeth must follow through with his fate and die. Macbeth reacts to Macduff in his internal loss of confidence as he realizes the end is near. For almost the first time in the play, Macbeth is vulnerable to weakness. Taking advantage of the shaky ground that Macbeth now stands on, Macduff ends the king’s life.
Overall, Macbeth’s perception of fate shows that he believes in fate as long as it conveniently benefits him. This perception is altered when he realizes that fate carries on no matter who it benefits. This perception of fate, revealed and explained through Macbeth’s actions and reactions, drive the plot forward. Macbeth’s fate drives him to become both the greedily ambitious King as well as the defiant fallen fighter.