Macbeth Essay..Asher Period 1 (Amanda Chiu)

In Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the characters’ actions to clarify the perception of fate affecting man and driving the plot. The witches inform Macbeth of his future title which ultimately leads Macbeth to create a plan to get the crown. The witches’ prophecies have also influenced Macbeth to drive the plot forward because he believes and trusts in them wholeheartedly. Macbeth’s perception of fate has affected his own actions and the plot.

In the beginning of the play, Macbeth encounters three witches who tell him about his future. They tell Macbeth that he is the new Thane of Cawdor, one day he shall be king, and one day Banquo’s children shall be king as well. Macbeth believes the witches, after their first prediction comes true. However, with the belief of him gaining the crown, Macbeth’s judgment becomes clouded as he begins cross boundaries. Automatically, Macbeth devises a plan to become king by killing the current King Duncan. He believes in the idea of predetermined fate, that he is almost certain that the witches are correct. This leads him to murdering King Duncan and intensifying the drama. This scene was the first significant murder because it opened the way for Macbeth to become king. After this horrible deed, Macbeth knows that he cannot stop there. Macbeth must also kill Banquo and his son to ensure that Macbeth’s family line will remain on the throne. Macbeth orders three murderers to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance, to guarantee Macbeth’s safety for the crown. However, only Banquo is killed and Fleance is able to escape. This murderous deed plays guilt on Macbeth’s conscious because from then on, Macbeth starts to see Banquo’s ghost wherever he walks. With Fleance escape, it gives hope for the future in which Macbeth shall someday be overthrown. This action was all stimulated from Macbeth’s actions to confide in the witches on the first day he meets them.

When Macbeth became king, he wanted to make certain that no man should take the throne away from him. He revisited the witches to gain more knowledge of the future. They tell him different prophecies: one informing him that no one born of woman shall harm Macbeth and another that Macbeth won’t be defeated until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane Hill. With these prophecies in mind, Macbeth feels invincible because he thinks every man is born from a woman and there’s no possibility that a forest could pick its roots up and march to his castle. With this, Macbeth feels overly confident but when Macbeth receives a letter that Malcolm has come with the English army, he starts to feel uneasy. He looks out across his castle land and sees the trees begin to move closer to him. The English army has chopped down the trees of Birnam Wood and used them to march with as a disguise. Macbeth soon realizes that his days or rather hours are numbered. In the final moments of Macbeth’s life, Macbeth fights Macduff and learns that he was taken from his mother by a caesarean section. Macduff finally slaughters Macbeth and his tyranny is over. All of these actions were driven by Macbeth’s action to seek guidance from the witches.

Macbeth was extremely curious. He sought security from the witches which ultimately cost him his life. Because Macbeth chose to confront the witches several times in the play, it led him to his brutal rise and fall. Macbeth believed that the witches were telling him his predetermined future but it was his belief in fate that drove him to do unspeakable actions. Macbeth’s actions were affected by his perception of fate which led him to drive the action forward as well.

By: Amanda Chiu

Asher P1 T4