Macbeth - Fate Vs Free Will Flashcards
Intro
Shakespeare presents fate and free will as intertwined forces, questioning whether Macbeth is destined for destruction or chooses his downfall.
The witches’ prophecies suggest fate has a fixed path, yet Macbeth’s actions drive events forward. Shakespeare contrasts Macbeth’s ruthless pursuit of destiny with Banquo’s patience and Lady Macbeth’s attempts to control fate, showing that fate offers possibilities, but free will determines the outcome.
How does Shakespeare introduce the idea of fate?
Fate is introduced through the witches, whose prophecies suggest Macbeth is meant for greatness—but their words are ambiguous and open to interpretation.
“All ____, Macbeth! ____ to thee, Thane of ____! / ___ to thee, T____ of C___! / ____ to thee, that s___ be king h________!”
“All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! / Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! / Hail to thee, that shalt be king hereafter!” - the witches (A1S3)
“All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! / Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! / Hail to thee, that shalt be king hereafter!” - how does this quote said by the witches in A1S3 present fate
The tricolon (“Hail… Hail… Hail…”) builds momentum and inevitability, as if Macbeth’s rise to power is unstoppable.
• The structure mirrors a royal coronation, foreshadowing his kingship but also his eventual downfall.
• The phrase “shalt be king hereafter” is vague—it doesn’t specify how or when, which leaves room for Macbeth’s free will to interfere.
“All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! / Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! / Hail to thee, that shalt be king hereafter!” - how does this quote said by the witches in A1S3 relate to Jacobean audience
• In Jacobean England, many believed in predestination—the idea that God (or supernatural forces) controlled human fate.
• However, the witches never instruct Macbeth to act, meaning their role may be manipulative rather than prophetic.
“All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! / Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! / Hail to thee, that shalt be king hereafter!” - alternate interpretation
The witches may exploit Macbeth’s ambition rather than predict his fate, showing that his downfall is due to his choices, not destiny.
How does Macbeth initially respond to fate
At first, Macbeth believes that if fate intends for him to be king, it will happen naturally—but this hesitation quickly vanishes as ambition takes over.
“C____ what c____ may, / Time and the hour r____ through the r______ day.” (Act 1, Scene 3)
“Come what come may, / Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.” (Act 1, Scene 3)
“Come what come may, / Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.” (Act 1, Scene 3)
• The repetition of “come” suggests resignation, as if Macbeth accepts whatever fate has planned.
• The metaphor of time “running” implies that events will unfold naturally, regardless of human intervention.
• The phrase “the roughest day” foreshadows the difficult path ahead, hinting that Macbeth subconsciously knows fate may bring suffering.
• In Jacobean England, people believed in the Divine Right of Kings, meaning rulers were chosen by fate, not ambition. Here, Macbeth seems to accept this idea—before he later tries to manipulate it.
“Come what come may, / Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.” (Act 1, Scene 3) alternative interpretation
• Macbeth may be convincing himself rather than genuinely believing in fate—his uncertainty sets up his later descent into ambition-fuelled action.
“If chance will have me ____ , why, chance may c___ me without my s___” (A1S3)
“If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me without my stir”
“If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me without my stir.” - how does this quote show Macbeths initial belief in fate
• The repetition of “chance” suggests that Macbeth briefly accepts fate’s control rather than forcing his destiny.
• The phrase “without my stir” implies passivity, yet the conditional “if” suggests doubt—he is already considering intervention.
• The Elizabethan Chain of Being dictated that social order was fixed by fate—kings were divinely chosen, and disrupting this was seen as dangerous. • However, Macbeth later abandons this belief, showing that he rejects fate in favour of free will.
“If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me without my stir.” - alternative interpretation
Macbeth may be testing fate, seeing if it will act alone before he takes matters into his own hands.
How does Macbeth shift from fate to free will?
Macbeth abandons the idea of fate controlling events and instead forces destiny through murder, showing that free will ultimately shapes his downfall.
“Rather than so, come f___ into the l___, and c_______ me to th’u______!”
“Rather than so, come fate into the list, and champion me to th’utterance!”
“Rather than so, come fate into the list, and champion me to th’utterance!”
• The metaphor of a “list” (a duelling arena) turns fate into an opponent, showing Macbeth’s desperation to control destiny.
• The verb “champion” suggests aggression—he is no longer a passive recipient of fate, but actively fighting against it.
• Macbeth’s attempt to defy fate echoes the tragic hero archetype—his hubris (excessive pride) leads to his inevitable downfall.
“Rather than so, come fate into the list, and champion me to th’utterance!” - alternate interpretation
This suggests that Macbeth fears fate is against him—he no longer trusts the witches’ prophecy, highlighting his paranoia and loss of control.
How does Shakespeare contrast Macbeth’s free will with Banquo’s?
Unlike Macbeth, Banquo also receives a prophecy but chooses not to act on it, showing that fate does not control actions—people do.
“If you can look into the S____ of t___-, and say which g___ will grow and which will not, s____ then to me.”
“If you can look into the seeds of time, and say which grain will grow and which will not, speak then to me.” (A1S3)
“If you can look into the seeds of time, and say which grain will grow and which will not, speak then to me.” - (A1S3) how does this show Banquos view on fate
• The natural imagery of “seeds” suggests fate provides potential, but human choice determines which ones flourish.
• The phrase “which will not” implies uncertainty, unlike Macbeth’s absolute belief in the prophecy.
• Banquo’s acceptance of fate reflects the Christian ideal of patience and divine will, contrasting with Macbeth’s ambition-driven interference.
“If you can look into the seeds of time, and say which grain will grow and which will not, speak then to me.”
Banquo (Act 1, Scene 3)
Banquo may be testing the witches’ credibility, showing that he is wary rather than blindly trusting them.
Front: How does Lady Macbeth attempt to manipulate fate?
Lady Macbeth believes that fate alone is not enough—she actively seeks to shape Macbeth’s destiny, showing that ambition can override fate.
“Come, you s____ that t___ on m___ thoughts, uns__ me here.”
“Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here.”
Lady Macbeth (Act 1, Scene 5)
“Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here.” - how does she attempt to control fate
Lady Macbeth (Act 1, Scene 5)
• The imperative “Come” gives Lady Macbeth a commanding presence, making her seem in control of her fate.
• The phrase “unsex me here” suggests that fate is linked to gender roles—she believes she must reject femininity to shape her destiny.
“Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here.” - link to society
Back: Lady Macbeth (Act 1, Scene 5)
In a patriarchal society, women had little power—Lady Macbeth’s desire to reshape fate is a rebellion against social norms.
Conclusion
Shakespeare presents fate as a guiding force, but free will determines the outcome. Macbeth’s choices drive his downfall, while Banquo’s restraint shows that rejecting ambition prevents destruction. By the end, Macbeth no longer blames fate, proving that his downfall was caused by his own actions, not destiny.
