In Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Macbeth, there is a question as to whether or not Macbeth is driven by fate or free will. The three weird sisters approach Macbeth with prophecies that will all come true in the end. It would appear that Macbeth is just following destiny at first. However, Macbeth always had a choice throughout the play to choose his own fate. Macbeth journeys to his murderous doom through his own free choice. .
In Act I, the three witches visit Macbeth and Banquo on the heath. The witches make three predictions; Macbeth will be the Thane of Cawdor, he will become King, and Banquo's sons will become king but not Banquo. Even though the witches did make these prophecies, Macbeth's fate was not sealed. Later in the same scene, Ross and Angus meet Macbeth. They tell Macbeth that he is now the Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth then reflects on the predictions and says, "Present fears are less than horrible imaginings" (I, vii, 139). Macbeth is relating his fear that he may have to do something violent in order to become king, but he hopes that it can come about by "chance". Almost immediately after the witches have visited him, Macbeth begins to make their prophecies a reality. He is almost trying to fulfill the tempting predictions, now that his mind is lustful for power, instead of remaining loyal to the King.
It is once again apparent that Macbeth does control his own destiny when the witches make their second appearance to him. They show Macbeth three apparitions. These tell Macbeth that he must "beware Macduff;/ beware the Thane of Fife" (IV, i, 71-72), he will be king until Birnam Wood meets Dunsinane Hill, he cannot be killed by anyone born of woman. He then sees Banquo's descendants that will become kings. At this point in the play Macbeth is using the witches as a guideline for his life. The prophecy that he cannot be harmed by anyone born of woman creates a false sense of security within himself.
I have made a decision on the issue of fate Vs free-will. ... I am choosing that free will exists in our world. ... According to Fate, I am a robot, puppet if you will, and the world is just a scripted play. ... Free will could not exist. ... Therefore, we must conclude that free will exists, and fate does not. ...
Both the concept of fate and free will played an equal part in Oedipus' destruction. Although he was a victim of fate, he was not controlled by it. ... This prophecy, as warned by the oracle of Apollo was going to come true (as written in his fate), no matter what he may have done to avoid it. Whatever he did in the past, when he was born to manhood in Corinth, was his fate. And what he did at Thebes was his own free will. ...
MACBETH - FATE VS. ... But are the decisions Macbeth makes from his free will or the fate the three witches have chosen for him. ... Rather than so, come fate into t into the list. ... The last encounter of fate we are going to discuss today is the last scene when Macbeth gives into his fate. ... I will not be afraid of death and bane, Till Birnam forest come to Dunsinane" Macbeth proclaims he will fight till the end, As the English army approaches, Macbeth tries to convince himself that he will be safe, as he puts all his hopes and fears into what the witches (fate) had told him ...
I believe that Oedipus did have free will in this play. ... The debate over fate vs. free choice has been an issue for a long time. ... Oedipus also used his free will when he decided to run away from his parents to avoid his fate. ... This act of free will leaves him blind. ... I strongly believe that Oedipus did have free will, it just existed within fate and the limitations that went along with it. ...
Fate vs. Freewill In Shakespeare's Macbeth a question arises about whether Macbeth is a puppet controlled by supernatural forces, fate, or if Macbeth is making his own decisions, forming his own life, free will. ... The question is whether or not these predictions were truly fate for them to occur or if Macbeth was influenced bye outside forces, but caused these events to occur by his own free will. ... The witches make three predictions to Macbeth and Banquo; Macbeth will be the Thane of Cawdor, he will become king, Banquo's sons will also become king and that Banquo will not b...
Fate vs. ... His inner strengths or his free will and pride along with uncontrollable forces or fate influences him. While he has free will to make his own decisions, fate continues to take control in the end. ... His free will and choice to avoid fate actually brought him closer. ... The author shows us that his free willed decisions and actions cannot defeat fate. ...
If not for free will Michael Henchard would not have been able to make choices such as selling his wife, that lead to his demise. ... Hardy's novels detail his beliefs in determinism and the struggles of his characters that lack free will. ... As a determinist, Hardy believed that human life was shaped not by free will but by such powerful, uncontrollable forces as heredity and God. ... Many great philosophers have argued fate vs. free will and still debate is wide spread on the issues, ranging from the very elite of society to the humblest of persons. ... Fate or free will depend upon t...
The events in the tragic play, Oedipus Rex illustrates a mixture of fate and free will. Both the concept of fate and free will led to the destruction of Oedipus. ... His past actions were determined by fate, but his decisions to flee from Corinth, murder an older man (which so happened to be his father and the King of Thebes), and to marry an older woman were that of his free will. ... Therefore the last act of destruction was caused by Oedipus" free will, but his tragic fate came about because of the destiny Apollo had but upon him. ... Oedipus was doomed at birth by fate, Apollo had c...
Is our will free or is it pre-determined? ... That is a free will. ... Absolutely, "It's the niceties that make the difference fate gives us the hand, and we play the cards," (Schopenhauer). ... The man has a free will to leave prison, has a free will to walk away from death, and a free will to eat ice cream while scratching the guards chin, but he will not see the manifestation of these "wills" in his situation. ... In reference to the issue at hand, Determinism vs. ...
