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How is fate described in Macbeth?

In Macbeth, fate is made to seem like an unquestionable force, something that determines and directs the course of our lives. It is made to seem this way by the Weird Sisters and the way they speak to Macbeth and Banquo about their futures. When the witches hail Macbeth as Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and the future king, they do so without qualification; there is no if this, then that. They simply present him with what appear to be facts about Macbeth's future without saying what actions he must take to become Thane of Cawdor or king. The same goes for Banquo; the witches tell him that he will father a line of kings without explaining how Banquo's lineage will rule.  


It is the same with the three apparitions the Weird Sisters later conjure for Macbeth. They present the king with two statements that seem to be assurances of a secure fate, but turn out to be enigmatically-worded statements of fact instead. The witches tell Macbeth that "none of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth" and "Macbeth shall never vanquished be until / Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill / Shall come against him" (IV.1.91-92, 105-107). The witches seem to present fate as factual, non-negotiable, and out of one's hands; however, it is really Macbeth's own flaws that prevent him from seeing his tragic end is the result of his own behavior, not fate.

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