The Impact of Free Will in William Shakespeare's Macbeth Essay Sample

When it comes to free will and predestination, Macbeth in Macbeth by William Shakespeare ultimately has free will and the ability to make his own decisions. While persons or other higher powers can influence his decision making, Macbeth is left with free will to determine his own fate. Over the course of the book, Macbeth became a tyrannical ruler who committed many acts that forced him into this state. While events including the prophecies from the witches and persuasion from Lady Macbeth pushed him in that direction, it was up to Macbeth to determine his own fate. The acts he committed include killing Duncan and framing his servants, having Banquo taken out, murdering the wife and children of Macduff, and assuming the position of an autocratic king. Each of these actions has a decision behind it, a decision that Macbeth himself decided to make. These decisions were what led him to his ultimate destination.

In a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, abolitionist, and poet, he stated that “the only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” This quote supports the idea that our fates are not predetermined for us, and that the only predestined fate of our lives is the one we choose for ourselves. The belief in free will stems from the idea that we as humans have the ability to make our own decisions and that these decisions will determine our own fate. This is a prominent theme throughout Macbeth. Macbeth is told that he is destined to become a certain person, he is influenced by higher powers and people close to him whispering in his ear about who he is supposed to be, but the only true way he becomes that person is through his own choices and actions.

This is first seen when Macbeth decides to kill King Duncan. The act of this murder was not simply set in stone by some higher power. Even though it was previously prophesied by the three witches that Macbeth would assume King Duncan’s position which was later followed by the pressuring by his wife to carry out the murder, there was a decision that Macbeth made in that particular moment that led to the demise of King Duncan. “I am settled, and bend up, each corporal agent to this terrible feat. Away, and mock the time with fairest show; False face must hide what the false heart doth know.” (1.7.80b) In this quote, Macbeth makes the decision to go through with the murdering of King Duncan. Previously in this act he was contemplating whether or not to go through with it, but in this quote he made the decision to do so.

To further examine this situation we can look at what Macbeth says and does before he decides to kill King Duncan. In Act One Scene Seven Macbeth says “If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly” (1.7.1-2). In this quote Macbeth admits that if he kills Duncan quickly then it will be over with. This proves that Macbeth is contemplating killing Duncan and shows that the decision is still up in the air and is yet to be made by Macbeth. “Soundly invite him - his two chamberlains will I, with wine and wassail, so convince… His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt of our great quell” (1.7.64-73a). In this quote Lady Macbeth and Macbeth make the split decision to frame the King’s servants for the murder. This exemplifies that the characters have free will to make their own decisions, especially on the spot when faced with unexpected situations.

The next example of when Macbeth used his free will to determine his own fate was when he ordered the assassins to take out Banquo. In act three scene one, Macbeth decides to hire thugs to kill Banquo and his son in a wooded park outside the palace.  “Both of you know Banquo was your enemy… with barefaced power, sweep him from my sight and bid my will avouch it” (3.1.113). In this quote Macbeth decides to have the thugs kill Banquo when the time is right. This is an example of free will because Macbeth chose to have Banquo taken out in his own unforeseen way. It was never directly prophesied that Banquo would die or that Macbeth would have anything to do with it so this further adds to the fact that Macbeth has the ability to freely make his own decisions without a higher power.

“Better be with the dead, whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, than, on the tortre of mind, to lie in restless ecstasy” (3.2.21-24). In this quote Macbeth expresses that he would rather be dead like the ones he has killed because at least they are peacefully resting. This is a key moment in the story because it is the pivotal moment when Macbeth realizes that the decisions he has been making are ultimately leading him to his downfall. This conveys the truth that Macbeth’s actions lead him to his downfall rather than predestined actions and events controlling where he ends up.

In act four scene one Macbeth makes the decision to go to the castle of Macduff and kill the wife and children of Macduff. This is a decision made by Macbeth not for political gain or to silence an enemy, but simply out of a personal and furious desire to do harm. This personal desire is a result of the previous decisions made by Macbeth. “The castle of Macduff I will surprise, seize upon Fife, give to the edge o’ the sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line” (4.2.166). As portrayed in this quote, Macbeth makes the personal decision to not only kill the family of Macduff, but anyone unfortunate enough to be related to Macduff. Macbeth is never told of a prophecy or never told that he should kill the family of Macduff. Rather, Macbeth uses his free will to take the lives of those people simply because he wanted to. This action was one of the prime moments that prove Macbeth was going downhill and since it was unpropheseid and uncalled for, it shows that Macbeth really does have the ability to determine his own fate with his own choices. This choice furthermore proves free will because this choice is the result and reaction of previous events and choices that took place earlier in the story, not a planned or prophesied event that was already predestined to occur.  

When looking at the journey of Macbeth who went from the Thane of Glamis and a humble companion of the King to a dictatorial ruler who killed and deceived his way to the throne, it can be concluded that Macbeth ultimately has free will and the ability to make his own decisions which led him to the resolution of his character. Macbeth had no predestined fate or no life that was already planned for him, Macbeth chose his own path, by his own choices, which led to his resolution as a person.