Fate NOT freewill is the ultimate

factor in determining the

outcome of one's life

By: Subeet, Nick, Nick, Ryan

"All Hail Macbeth! Thou shalt be King hereafter"

-Witch, Act I. Sc. III

Table of Contents

How fate progresses the plot

Characters and how they are influenced by fate

Symbolism and Literary devices related to fate

Imagery in fate

What is Fate?
Fate- Something that unavoidably befalls a person; often
determined by a supernatural power.

The Question
Was it free will that drove Macbeth? Or was it his inescapable fate to be a
traitor?

Act 1
2nd Witch All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!
3rd Witch

All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter! (1.3.51-53)

3rd Witch Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. So all hail, Macbeth and
Banquo! (1.3.71-72)
Macbeth [Aside] If chance will have me king, why,
chance may crown me, Without my stir. (1.3.157-159)

Act 2 & 3
Macbeth

Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand?

Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not,
fatal vision, sensible To feeling as to sight? or art thou but A dagger of the
mind, a false creation (2.1.42-47)
Macbeth

come fate into the list, And champion me to th' utterance!(3.1.76-77)

Act 4 & 5
Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high
Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him. (4.1.104-106)
They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly, But, bear-like, I must fight the
course. What's he That was not born of woman? Such a one Am I to fear, or
none. (5.7.1-4)

Characters most affected by Fate

The witches
gave Macbeth
and Banquo
both a
prophecy

Macbeth

Banquo

How Fate affected Macbeth

All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth!
Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king
hereafter. 1.111

How Fate affected Banquo

Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. Not so happy, yet much happier.
Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none: so all hail Macbeth and
Banquo 1.111

Symbolism
Symbolism- Using an object or words to represent an abstract idea.
(ex. the colour red, a dove, an eagle)

Examples of Symbolism relating to Fate

If chance may stir me, chance may crown me, without my stir - MacBeth (1.3.157-159)
Macbeth referring to letting chance take route rather than fighting things.

I dare do all that may become a man; who dares do more is none - MacBeth (1.7.50-52)
MacBeth insisting that murder is off.

Key Symbols
The floating dagger - Macbeth glancing at the dagger
Bloody Hands - Symbolizing guilt for murdering Duncan
Dead Children - The fact that MacBeth is willing to murder children just to keep the throne and
remain king
The Witches - Symbolizing darkness of the human soul

Literary devices used to relate fate

Metaphor, Simile, Soliloquy, Personification

Metaphor
-

O full of scorpions in my mind, dear wife

(3.2.)

The fact that he states scorpions in my mind

which is not literally, figure of speech

Simile
-

Doubtful it stood, as two spent

swimmers that do cling together and
choke their art (1.2.)

The condition of the armies is being compared

to the exhaustion of swimmers who cannot go
on.

Soliloquy
-

In this dagger which I see before me

(2.1.)

Spoken after Lady MacBeth and his discussion of

the crime.
This soliloquy just takes glimpses on his fate and
his imagination.

Personification
-

Dark night strangles the travelling lamp

(2.4.)

New sorrows/ strike heaven on the face

(4.2)

Imagery and Fate

Blood

Represents Good and Evil

Greatly affects Macbeth and Lady

Macbeth

Portrayed throughout whole play

Will all great Neptunes ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?
2.2.77
Yet who would have thought the old man to had so much blood in
him!
5.1.35

Hands
-

Determines fate
Used for good and Evil

On which I must fall down, or else oer-leap, for in my

way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my
black and deep desires: The eye wink at the hand! Yet let
that be, which the eye fears, when it is done, to see
1.4.56
My hands are of your colour, but I shame to wear white
2.2.82

Thank you for listening!!!

In conclusion you can't escape your fate, although free will was exercised by
the characters, their fate was predetermined. Macbeth was destined to be
king and a traitor. Their fate was determined by a supernatural power; the
witches, that tricked Macbeth and lead him to his own downfall.