fate

• [A1,S3]

  “cannot be ill, cannot be good: if ill why hath it given me earnest of success“ - mb


  in an ASIDE, macbeth evaluates whether the witches prophecies are good or bad but goes on to question how they could possibly be bad as the witches predicted his successful future alongside a truth (that he was thane of glamis & cawdor)
• [A1,S3] “cannot be ill, cannot be good: if ill, why hath it given me earnest of success”

  • shakespeare raises questions about fate & free will through his protagonist
  • tragic hero expresses uncertainty about the ambiguous prophecies
  • oxymoron: ”ill” & “good” conveys DICHOTOMIES in his dilemma
  • macbeth, via his questioning nature, presented as DOUBTFUL & REFLECTIVE
  • presents macbeth as dubiois abt witches
  • question suggests he is inclined to believe witches
  • implies receptiveness to supernatural ideas & ambition
• [A1,S3] “Lesser than Macbeth, and greater” - witches

  The witches prophesise that Banquo will have a lesser status than Macbeth, but that he will also be better or “greater”
• “Lesser than Macbeth, and greater”


  • shakespeare uses witches to present ideas abt fate & free will:
  • witches r perceived as having supernatural qualities 
  • yet it is macbeth’s response to their words that realises their prophecies
  • oxymoron “Lesser” & “greater” presents alternative versions of success:
  • although macbeth will be king, banquo’s legacy makes him “greater”
  • macbeth’s jealous paranoia once he is king leads to his ruin
• [A3,S1] "king, Cawdor, Glamis, all" "thou play'dst most foully for't” -banquo

  Banquo reflects on Macbeth’s success (that he has “all” he was promised), but he is concerned that Macbeth has won this success by “playing” unfairly
• [A3,S1] "king, Cawdor, Glamis, all" "thou play'dst most foully for't” -banquo

  • shakespeare illustrates growing conflict in macbeth & banquo’s friendship:
  • banquo suspects that his friend has acted “foully”
  • raises ideas abt machiavellian success
  • shakespeare questions ideas abt fate, free will & power of supernatural:
  • this line mirrors the witches’ words, “foul & fair”
  • the line is blurred between the prophecies & the way in which macbeth responds
• the themes of fate & free will r intricately interwoven, exploring the tension between PREDETERMINED DESTINY & individual CHOICES_ play suggests that whilst the witches' prophecies may hint at potential outcomes, macbeth's actions & choices ultimately shape his fate, leading to his DOWNFALL
• macbeth's attempts to CONTROL fate & his own ambition lead to his tragic demise_ he becomes obsessed with the prophecies, misinterprets their meaning, & is unable to see the consequences of his actions
• lady macbeth also plays a significant role in exploring the themes of fate & free will_ initially encourages macbeth to take action, viewing the witches' prophecies as an opportunity to seize power_ her own ambition & manipulation also contribute to her own demise