Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Which is responsibel for Macbeth's downfall? Fate or free will?

Macbeth was brought down by his ambition, but it was ambition that was exploited by the witches.  Macbeth was never forced into any actions that occurred; he always had free will to choose his actions.  The witches merely fed a desire that was already inside Macbeth.  In Act 1, sc. 3, when the witches deliver their prophecies to Macbeth, Macbeth's responses indicate that becoming king is something that he has secretly hoped for (he is, after all, a cousin to the king).  When he says, in his first aside, "The greatest is behind," he means that the next step is to become king.  Then in his next aside, the longer one that begins with. "Two truths are told...." also indicates that the thought of becoming king has crossed his mind and the thought of murdering Duncan has already surfaced in his head.  All of this indicates that he is acting on free will.  The witches' powers are limited.  Look through their words at the beginning of Act 1, sc. 3, as they talk about what they'll do to the woman who refused to share her chestnuts.  While they do seem to be able to predict the future, they do not have control of a person's actions.  Macbeth has the tragic flaw of "vaulting ambition" which he recognizes in himself (Act 1, sc. 7 soliloquy). Since he knows he has this flaw, he should be able to control it, but he doesn't.  That speaks of choice and therefore, free will.  So, Macbeth's downfall is brought about by his own free will.

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