Most of Shakespeare’s plays deal with themes such as the natural vs. the supernatural, misuse of power, ambition, guilt, etc. But, specifically to The Tragedy of Macbeth we frequently encounter the theme of fate, which is given priority over other minor issues and influence over the play as a whole. However, despite the popular idea of fatalism (fate governs one’s life) both Shakespeare’s Masterpiece and the Bible agree that fate is not the leading cause of man’s tragic end, but rather “man’s own folly ruins his life” (Prov 19:3)
As the play commenced, we were introduced to three very sinister witches who were key to the development of the plot. “They were not ordinary witches or seeresses. They were great powers of destiny, great ministers of fate. (G. L. Kittredge). The three witches’ purpose was the devil’s: to deceive, kill, and destroy. They pretended to be on Macbeth’s side, but they were just manipulating him and playing with the lives of many others as well. But really it was Macbeth’s own desires that made him sin. In the first part the Witches contacted Macbeth to let him have a glimpse of what the future looked like for him. They declared that Macbeth would not only be Thane of Glamis, but also of Cawdor and finally king over all of Scotland. At first, Macbeth went through a stage of unbelief and said: “by Sinel’s death I know I am thane of Glamis; but how of Cawdor? The thane of Cawdor lives, a prosperous gentleman; and to be king stands not within the prospect of belief” (I. iii. 71-74). He communicated to us his conviction that the witches’ predictions were impossible. However, later we also see in Macbeth a spark of interest and eagerness to know his future as he says: “Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more!” (V.iii. 71.)
As soon as the first prediction became true, Macbeth started to desire what seemed like a nice life. Nevertheless, he recognized that even though having the title of king seemed like a good thing, it was certainly not good because it was leading him to think of murder, which he could not conceive at the time. He said: “If good, why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs?” (I.iii.38-40.) Moreover, right after having first consented the idea of killing Duncan, he quickly dismisses the thought of it because he comes to the conclusion that: “if chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, without my stir” (I. iii. 44-45.) If what the witches told him was truly fate, he wouldn’t have to do anything, instead things would just naturally fall into their rightful place.
Later, we discover abruptly that even though Macbeth came to the previous conclusions on his own, they weren’t enough to keep him from performing evil. Subtly, Macbeth became a fool because even though he knew what was right he was not able to put it into practice. Banquo also warned Macbeth against the witches by saying: “oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray’s in deepest consequence” (I. iii. 25-29.) But after having already neglected his own conscience, it was easier for Macbeth to ignore this friendly advice too and immediately start planning the execution of his evil desires.
One of the greatest factors that influenced Macbeth’s decision to murder Duncan was his own wife. At first, Lady Macbeth manipulated him through the mocking of his “manliness” and her delusions of ambition. “She (was) vehement, assuming first that fate ha(d) already made its decision and she (had to) do whatever (was) necessary to become the handmaiden of destiny” (Coursen, H. R.) However, further into the plot, Lady Macbeth’s threats were no longer necessary because Macbeth was able to take the reins of his own destiny; embracing his sinful nature. Ecclesiastes 6:10 says: “man ... is not able to dispute with one stronger than he.” And this is a perfect explanation of Macbeth’s internal conflict, for even though it was against his will, he yielded to his sinful nature which was greater than him; and it was also easier now, for fate was on his side.
Eventually Macbeth killed Duncan and became king, but this did not satisfy him. After these events, something else began to roam through Macbeth’s mind and tortured him endlessly: the thought that Banquo’s sons were going to be kings, just like the witches predicted too. Macbeth was determined not to let this happen and started seeing his good friend Banquo as an enemy, and his mind would not be at ease until he did something about it.
In fear of losing his throne to Banquo’s lineage, Macbeth decided that Banquo must be murdered together with his children. But this time, evil was incrusted deeper into Macbeth’s heart, therefore he did not even need his wife again to spark another assassination. Moreover, as the foolish idea of killing Banquo festered inside Macbeth, the roles suddenly switched: Macbeth was no longer trying to accomplish fate’s will, but he was now against it by trying to prevent Banquo from having a line of successors. Once again, Macbeth executed his bloody plan by killing Banquo, which eventually led him to kill Macduff’s noble wife and children and young Siward. We must understand that these murders are nothing but the foreshadow Macbeth’s own downfall. This resembles what Proverbs 16:4-5 says: “The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.” From this we can infer that this view from scripture is Macbeth’s outcome is coherent with what scripture also foretells will happen to those who sow wickedness.
Near the end of the play, Macbeth recognized that he was mistaken by trusting the witches (which was true) but he still did not realize that what brought destruction upon him were his own wicked decisions. Macbeth did not understand that “each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed” (James 1:13-14.) Macbeth was apparently unaware of the fact that “A man's own folly ruins his life” therefore he blamed it on the witches and on fate, which also fulfils the second part of the verse: “yet his heart rages against the LORD” (Proverbs 19:3), which simply means that “When a man foolishly wrecks his life, he may yet insist on blaming God, or perhaps ‘Fate.’ In this way, he persists in his folly.”
What ruined Macbeth was not the knowledge of his fate through the witches, but his response to this knowledge. He liked what he was foretold, and he did everything in his hands to make it true, but as a result he received the punishment for his own folly: he died by Macduff’s sword. “Macduff is, in this sense, the fulfilment of Macbeth's foolish wish to replace natural succession with abrupt violence” (Bloom, Harold.) I believe it wasn’t charm that made the witches be accurate about the future events, but their knowledge of Macbeth’s will; they discerned the evil desires of his heart and therefore knew that he would fulfil their prediction on his own. Bloom, Harold says of Macbeth: “Hence we speak of destiny or fate, as if it were some external force or moral order, compelling him against his will to certain destruction... but he is imprisoned in the world he has made” (William Shakespeare''s Macbeth.)
At the denouement of the play, we see that “Shakespeare attempts no solution of the problem of free will and predestination. . . . He never gives us the impression that man is not responsible for his own acts” (G. L. Kittredge.) Now we know that The Tragedy of Macbeth shows how We know the Bible tells the truth, and Shakespeare also had to portray some sort of truth to make his plays “believable” to the human soul. Therefore both had to agree to the fact that even though God is sovereign over all things, as humans we choose our own fate, and that can either edify us our destroy us. Also, we have to have in mind that Shakespeare’s patron was King James himself, also the patron of the King James Bible, therefore there is no reason for these works to contradict, but instead they had to be constantly in agreement, for they had the same patron.
WORKS CITED
G. L. Kittredge 1939, xviii-xix, cited in Coursen, H. R. Macbeth A Guide to the Play. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1997. Book on-line. Available from Questia, http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=15348086. Internet. Accessed 16 September 2011.
Coursen, H. R. Macbeth A Guide to the Play. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1997. Book on-line. Available from Questia, http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=15348086. Internet. Accessed 16 September 2011.
Bloom, Harold, ed. William Shakespeare''s Macbeth. New York: Chelsea House, 1987. Book on-line. Available from Questia, http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=98109508. Internet. Accessed 16 September 2011.
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