Macbeth's CHOICES

I’m going to start this post by talking about Macbeth’s CHOICES, as I feel very strongly that it was these, as opposed to fate, that led him “down the primrose path to the everlasting bonfire” (Macbeth, 2.3).

*Not pictured: The everlasting bonfire*

Nothing in Macbeth’s story was predetermined. Period. His encounter with the witches was a chance scenario that could have happened to just about anyone else (at the very least any other thane in his general region), and everything from that point on was free will.

When Macbeth first received the prophecy, he is shocked and confused, for he knows that in order for the witches prophecy to (fully) come true, King Duncan will have to die. However, the witches say absolutely nothing that suggests that Macbeth has to be the one at fault for the murder. Based on everything the witches told us, King Duncan could have just as easily died in a tragic horse drawn carriage crash on his way home from the Macbeths. However, Macbeth finds himself thinking about killing Duncan just minutes after the prophecy is given to him; “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,/ Against the use of nature?” (Macbeth 1.3). While I disagree with Shakespeare, I think he is trying to show his belief in fate through this rhetorical question. Macbeth is posing this question to the audience as he truly does not know the answer himself, leading the audience to believe that there is some sort of evil force compelling him to have these thoughts. While Shakespeare is somewhat convincing with this device (and all of that other nature imagery he uses), it is not nearly enough to make me think that anything in Macbeth’s story came about because of faith. After Macbeth has these thoughts, he pushes them back down, only to have them later brought back up by his lovely wife (please note the sarcasm). However, Macbeth yet again makes a CHOICE to agree with his wife and plan the murder of Duncan. Still further into the story, Macbeth makes ANOTHER CHOICE to finish off Duncan, when Lady Macbeth could not do it herself. As can be seen through all of these decisions, Macbeth is fully in control of his own destiny (although I’m not sure that’s the appropriate word), and is not in any way a victim of Shakespeare’s so called ’fate’.

Much like I believe that Macbeth was in complete control of his life, I believe that the events in mine have been controlled by me, myself, and I (and being an arts major, I think I sort of have to believe this). My bad chemistry grade is not due to some evil force in the universe who wants to see me fail, but rather due to myself, who stayed up until 3AM playing Hay Day instead of studying. This also means that my successes in life are due to my actions as well. I have been accepted to college because I have worked so hard these past four years. I have acquired the ability to roll through my split (I’ll show you if you ask, I’m super proud of it) not because I was blessed by a dancing angel, but because I spend hours at my dance studio pushing myself to stretch “just a little bit further”. I believe that it is my hard work that creates these success, and my faults that create unfortunate events. Contrary to Shakespeare, I know (not even believe, but KNOW) that your life is entirely in your hands.