THE WITCHES, FREE WILL, AND FATE
1. Macbeth uses an aside in “Glamis and Thane of Cawdor: The greatest is behind.” (Aside to
Banquo) “Do you not hope your children shall be kings, when those that gave the Thane of
Cawdor to me promised no less to them?” (I.iii.i.117-123) Shakespeare uses an aside in order to
show how Macbeth is basing the future off of the witch’s predictions. He believes in what they
say because the witches told him that there was still more to come. He also makes an aside to
Banquo in order to question him in if he puts his faith in the hands of the witches because they
told Banquo that his children shall be kings.
2. Macbeth uses a rhetorical question in “Then live Macduff: what need I fear of thee?” (IV.i.i.82),
which also shows Macbeth’s tone of being confident in becoming king. Shakespeare uses a
rhetorical question in order to show that Macbeth doesn’t have to question his own future
because he already knows what the outcome will be. The rhetorical question gives Macbeth a
confident tone about himself and the fate in which the witches tell him that he will become
king.
3. Hecate uses repetition of hateful verbs in “He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear. His hopes
'bove wisdom, grace, and fear. And you all know security is mortals' chiefest enemy.” (III.v.i.3033) Shakespeare uses these hateful verbs in order to describe how Hecate the leader of the
witches decides how Macbeth’s future will become. It makes it seem that the witches are the
ones who make Macbeth do these evil things, but he also has a choice in whether to act out the
evil things that come in his way.
4. "the weird sisters, hand in hand, posters of the sea and land"-Act1 Scene 3 page 305 In this
passage Shakespeare uses a mystical diction to show that the witches have a omniscient power.
Also, since there was no way anyone could travel "swiftly" during this time period, it hints
towards the fact that they could fly.
5. "Good sir, why do you stat, and seem to fear things so fair"-Act 1 Scene 3 page305. In this
passage Shakespeare uses a curious tone to show that Banquo has the free will to choose to
believe or no to believe in the witches prophecies. As a result of his choice he begins to ask
Macbeth why he believes in the witches.
6. "Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none"-Act 1 Scene 3 page 306.In this passages this
passage Shakespeare uses a foreshadowing to show that the witches know everything that will
happen. As a result they are predicting that Banquo will have kings but he will not be one. This
proves true because he is killed by Macbeth but his children become kings.
7. When the witches chant “All hail, Macbeth!” (I. III.48) they use repetition. All three witches say
this and follow it by a prediction of what Macbeth will become.The repetition in this passage
shows that the witches are glorifying Macbeth. They have faith that he is going to become more
powerful and by doing so Macbeth begins to believe he will obtain power.
8. Shakespeare uses diction while describing how Macbeth becomes after hearing the witches
predictions. Banqo says, "Look how our partner’s rapt"(I.III.143).By describing Macbeth as "rapt"
Shakespeare emphasizes how Macbeth was caught up in their predictions right away. This
shows how Macbeth's acting on the witches predictions will determine Macbeth's fate.
9. Macbeth has an aside and says "Come what come may. Time and the hour runs through the
roughest day" (I. III. 147) Shakespeare uses an aside here to show how Macbeth feels.By having
Macbeth reveal what he is thinking in this aside Shakespeare reveals that Macbeth firmly
believes that the his fate is already planned. He knows that whatever is meant to happen will
happen and he accepts it when he says "come what may."
THE WITCHES, FREE WILL, AND FATE
10. Banquo’s sons “shalt get kings, though thou be none.” (67-68) (Third Witch) (Act I, iii) The third
witch has foreshadowed that Banquo will have a dynasty, but Macbeth will not, foreshadowing
that Macbeth will have an end with no kids.
11. “If good, why do I yield to that suggestion” (Aside) (134) (Macbeth) (Act I, iii)Macbeth’s internal
conflict is revealed through his aside. Macbeth is yielding to the idea of killing Duncan for power
since the witches have already predicted that Macbeth shall be thane of Scotland. This
introduces the idea that Macbeth being king is fate since the first of the witches’ predictions
have become true.
12. Banquo hopes Macbeth’s oracles “they not be my oracles as well.” (9) (Act III, i) (Banquo)
Banquo is explaining in his soliloquy that the predictions of the witches are true. He’s realizing
that he might be killed but not his sons since they shall be king. This goes back to the witches
having the power to control the ultimate fate of the characters.
13. The third witch foreshadows Macbeth’s as a king “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king
thereafter” (I.iii.50). In a way the witches control fate and the things that will come up in the
future. They foreshadow Macbeth as a king, without him knowing that he was going to have to
kill the king. And that is where free will comes in, he had the choice to do the right thing and not
let his ambition to take the best of him.
14. The shared meter between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth shows that Macbeth had faith in the
witches and therefore didn’t consider his free will when he committed murder, “I have done the
deed. Didst thou not hear a noise? .../ When? / Now.”(II.ii.14). He had the free choice to stand
up for what he thought it was right. He let the fate of the witches decide on his free will.
15. Macbeth uses repetition when they inform him that his wife is dead, “there would have been a
time for such a word. Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow” (V.v.18) the actions he and
Lady Macbeth led them to this. Macbeth had the choice to not do every bad he did. The witches
didn’t have control of his actions because he’s the one that acted upon what the witches had
predicted. Therefore, the death of Lady Macbeth might not have happened.
16. Macbeth’s soliloquy states “if it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it were done
quickly” showing Macbeth’s internal conflict (I.vii.1-2). The soliloquy gives insight into Macbeth’s
contemplative mind state which shows Macbeth’s control over his own free will. The audience
is aware of Macbeth decision making showing his dominion over his own choices in life and free
will.
17. The witches’ prognostication that “for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth” foreshadows a
rather rare but inevitable conclusion for the fate of Macbeth (IV.i.80-81). The witches’
prediction shows their power over the fate of the characters. While the characters have their
own free will, the witches control fate in knowing the inescapable conclusion.
18. In Seyton’s dialogue with Macbeth, he reports “the queen, my lord, is dead” (V.v.16). In
context, the queen takes her own life which is reported through Seyton’s message. The queen’s
decision to make away with herself shows her execution of free will.
19. The first witch is discussing the curse, which includes draining “him dry as hay,” that she will
place on a fisherman who refused to share his chestnuts with her (I.iii.18). What the witch is
promising to do here is deny the fisherman his sleep and rest on the open sea. With a lack of
sleep, the fisherman would be apt to mistakes and illusions and might make a mistake which
could result in his death. The witch here is demonstrating the fact that she can control lives
here.
20. After a long soliloquy, Macbeth tells his entering wife that “We will proceed no further in this
business (of murdering Duncan)” (I.vii.31). I believe this shows that Macbeth does have some
THE WITCHES, FREE WILL, AND FATE
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say in his fate. He makes a conscious decision to spare his king and ignore his ambition and the
prophecy. The fact that his wife changes his mind speaks more of his fecklessness than of fate.
Hecate is chiding the witches for going “to trade and traffic with Macbeth in riddles and affairs
of death” (III.v.4-5). This line gives the witches a sense of power. They control and initiate the
trade while Macbeth is merely on the receiving end of their openness. Obviously, the witches
are in control, but how often are the vendors the producers?
Act 2 scene 1 Before Macbeth sets out to murder the sleeping Duncan, He asks if Banquo if he
would help him. Banquo replies “[that he will as long as he can keep his] allegiance clear”
(2:1:27). Shakespeare uses Banquo as a dramatic foil to Macbeth by making his reaction to the
prophecy calmer. While Macbeth rushes into setting himself on the throne Banquo sets the
limits of propriety on himself. This brings up the question of whether Banquo would have killed
Duncan if the prophecy was reversed.
Act 1 scene 7.Macbeth tries to weasel out of killing Duncan and Lady Macbeth replies that
“[they’ll] not fail” (1:7:61). Shakespeare uses Lady Macbeth as a dramatic foil to show Macbeth
as weak willed and forced into this by his wife. This raises the question of whether or not
Duncan would have died if Macbeth wore the pants in his marriage.
Act 3 scene 1 Macbeth reveals in a soliloquy that “to be [king] but to be safely [king is
necessary]” (3:1:50). Shakespeare uses this monologue to show the audience that Macbeth is
afraid of his future. As the weird sisters prophesied only that he would be king and though that
Banquo’s sons would be king nothing explicitly says that Macbeth is in danger. This implies that
Macbeth doesn’t wholly trust their prophecy.