Taylor Levine

asher p 3

Macbeth Essay

In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Shakespeare is able to manipulate the device of characterization to clarify the perception that ones fate affects ones actions as well as to drive the plot forward. Macbeth is unaware of what his fate in life will be, but when the three witches predict that Macbeth will be king, Macbeth creates this perception that this is his fate. Macbeth took it into his own hands, with the help of his wife, to make this prophecy come true even if it was the wrong way to come about it; his perception was that he must kill those on his way to become king. Through Macbeth’s reactions as well as actions the perception of Macbeth’s fate is clarified and the plot is driven forward.

Macbeth fought with great vigor for his country and the king noticed this and had decided to make him the Thane of Cawdor but before the king could tell Macbeth himself the three witches tell him first and also tell him that he will also become king. Macbeth reacts to this with great enthusiasm and begins to plan on how to make his fate come true. This is where is perception becomes false. Fate is not something one may decide what it is randomly, it has been chosen for the moment one is born. To muddle with ones fate can be disastrous, which is what happened in the play, Macbeth was killed. The king was already going to make him Thane; Macbeth did not need to intervene for it to become true. So, if he had been patient and if his fate were truly to end up as king it would have happened without his intervening. But because Shakespeare chose for Macbeth to take matters into his own hands the plot is moved along quicker with more suspense and action rather than if he were to just wait around for something to happen.

Macbeth’s reactions to certain people and event led him to his actions. Because he was so worked up on becoming king because of what the witches told him he did the unthinkable and killed the king of Scotland. As a result he was made king because no one had suspected him of being the murderer and King Duncan’s kids had fled the country. Malcolm, Duncan’s son, was next in line to become king but Macbeth could have showed Duncan that he was the right choice to be king. Again his actions drove the plot forward because his actions sped up the process.

Shakespeare creates a message saying one should never meddle with ones fate or great consequences will follow. He proved that through Macbeth’s death. After everything Macbeth did to become king, by killing multiple people, Macbeth ended up dead at the end of the play. His meddling with fate turned out worse than what it might have been had he not meddled at all.