Fate/Free Will Quotes

Question 1

A1S3_Macbeth
“If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me
Without my stir.”

Answer 1

Upon hearing from the witches, Macbeth is intrigued but have yet to consider to take any action, assuming it’s deemed as fate and will happen on its own ‘without his stir’ (no effort needed/action taken)

Question 2

A1S4_Macbeth
“On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap,
For in my way it lies.”

Answer 2

Here, Macbeth has learned of the fact that Malcolm will soon be given the position of King of Scotland, and is therefore concerned about it. The ‘in my way it lies’ suggests that he sees Malcolm as a meer ‘obstacle’ blocking his path to become king. He now have slight doubts over what he assumed to be ‘fate’, and so he decides to “o’erleap” (to take action); This is where ‘free will’ starts to come into play.

Question 3

“That shalt be king hereafter.”- A1S3

Answer 3

The quote triggers the ambition inside Macbeth, as it indicates that he shall be the future king, to which he believes, although it is not clear whether the prophecy was preordained or self fulfilling. Shakespeare does this to show that jumping to conclusion( like Macbeth did, thinking that he had to kill the king to become king), could result in serious consequences.