Macbeth Essay

Macbeth Essay

by Adrian Little

Throughout the play Macbeth, Macbeth’s perception of the future along with his characterization created one of the most masterful plays of all time.
In the beginning of the play, Macbeth’s idea of his future drove the plot forward. He had recently visited the weird sisters who told him that he would one day be hailed as King. He believed them, and did all that was in his power to make those words come true. He discussed his vision of the future with his wife, who encouraged his aspirations even more. Her influence as well as his own personal ambition drove him to murder the unsuspecting King. Macbeth had power in the country, and with the kings son being gone, it only seemed natural to give him the crown. He was now the one who was being hailed as king, and had the future that he had desired for himself. However, now that he had satisfied his previous wishes, his perception of fate was once again turning.
At Macbeth’s party, his ambitious view of himself being king quickly shifts to insecurity. By the time Macbeth has his party he has already killed the King as well as someone who he viewed as a challenge to his throne, Banquo. Then, while eating dinner with guests, the ghost of Banquo appears and sits in his spot. The ghost is only a figment of Macbeth’s imagination and nobody else sees him. This characterization between Macbeth and the ghost show that he is struggling to keep from appearing entangled in all of the recent murders. After freaking out and making all of his guests leave, Macbeth becomes a little bit less sure about himself holding the crown. He shows this because he goes to the weird sisters again because he knows his situation is not great, and needs the reassurance of their fortune telling. They tell him more, further changing his idea of his future.
While Macbeth is guarding his castle, we see how his perception of fate intertwines with his characterization. So far, everything the weird sisters has said about Macbeth’s future has come true. So he has reason to fear when they tell him to be careful about Macduff and the foretelling of trouble happening when the Birnam Wood comes. But they also tell him that no man born of women shall harm him, inspiring his confidence once again. Here his perception of the future changes as he now sees himself as invincible, wondering how any man could not be born of a woman. His new found confidence in his future translates well for him, as he killed many soldiers as well as the King of England’s son. However, once Macduff comes into the room and proclaims that he was taken out of his mother’s stomach. Macbeth being completely reliant on his fate given to him, gave up in his battle against Macduff, who matched two of the prophecies that the weird sisters told him to watch out for.
Macbeth was given the fortunate chance of getting his fortune told. Macbeth held what the weird sisters said with the highest esteem and believed all they said to be true, and based all of his actions along with their prophecies. However, his misplaced trust led to his ultimate demise and the destruction of all of his previous self.