Theme of Decisions in Macbeth Essay Example

In the play "Macbeth" by Shakespeare, the main character, Macbeth, is given a prophecy by three witches. Once the prophecy is told, characters start to act differently, especially Macbeth. The characters in this play are not at the mercy of fate, they have free will and control over their lives. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth make desperate decisions to make the prophecy come true as they want.

Throughout the play, Macbeth has made decisions according to his own free will. Some of his actions were made with regard to the prophecy, but ultimately they were choices made by Macbeth. For example, shortly before Macbeth is supposed to murder Duncan, he becomes concerned and anxious about his actions.In Macbeth’s soliloquy, he says, "Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return/To plague the inventor. This even-handed justice/Commends the ingredients of our poisoned chalice/To our own lips"(1.7.9-12). This indicates that he understands his actions might have consequences, and shortly after he says to Lady Macbeth, "we will proceed no further in this business"(1.7.34). In this quote, he is referring to committing the murder and is affirming that he and Lady Macbeth will stop their plan of murder. Another example of Macbeth displaying free will is when the witches send three apparitions to tell Macbeth more about his future. The second apparition says, "For none of woman born/Shall harm Macbeth '' (4.1.91-92). This prophecy indicates that no women born person can harm Macbeth, and at this point in the play, Macbeth knows no one who was not born of a woman, yet he still wants to kill Macduff. Macbeth says, "Then live, Macduff; what need I fear thee?/But yet I’ll make assurance double sure/And take a bond of fate. Thou shalt not live"(4.1.93-95). Macbeth himself admits that fate will keep Macduff and all other women born people from harming him, yet he still makes the choice to kill, showing that he has free will.

The prophecies given by the weird sisters do not indicate that Lady Macbeth has to do anything or is going to be anything, thus indicating all her decisions are of her own free will. When Lady Macbeth receives a letter from Macbeth to inform her of the prophecies, Lady Macbeth believes she and Macbeth must kill. Lady Macbeth says, "Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be/What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature;/ It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness/ To catch the nearest way"(1.5.15-18). In this quote, she specifically says "the nearest way," implying that murder is the method she chooses to fulfill the prophecy and not the only way.

In conclusion, prophecies and fate influence the way characters act, but they do not control characters' decisions. Macbeth shows signs of indecisiveness throughout the play, indicating that he has choices. Lady Macbeth, on the other hand, shows confidence in her decisions, but all her decisions are still made with free will.