ESSAY STARTER: MACBETH

How Fate guides the action in Macbeth

Fate is defined as a predetermined future, the polar opposite of free will. Fate is one of the strongest themes in the text of Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, and many different approaches can be taken to this topic. It is always possible to put a new perspective on this topic because it is so encompassing. Since one of the main themes in Macbeth is Fate it can easily be argued that Fate guides all the events in the play.


THESIS:


“Lady Macbeth tries to convince Macbeth to exercise his free will and kill King Duncan, but the world in which they live is completely governed by Fate, as is the murder itself.”

Even though Fate and free will are opposing forces, Lady Macbeth urges Macbeth to take Fate in his own hands and kill King Duncan. Since Fate is unalterable, the Macbeths’ decision to commit the murder is fulfilling Fate, even though it would have happened anyway. Their efforts to change their Fate never succeed, with everything the witches say coming true. Fate and prophesy are closely linked and all the major events in the play come from Fate or trying to change Fate. To prove this thesis you must examine the instances where Fate and prophesy guide the action.


INTRO:


Start with a great opening line that introduces that topic: “The forces of Fate guide the action in Macbeth, through prophesies and the Macbeths’ attempts to alter these prophesies.” A good opening line will lead up to your thesis statement so it looks well-planned. Briefly outline some of the points that you will use to prove your thesis. By introducing Fate as the main topic, the intro will naturally lead into the thesis statement. You should briefly mention some of the points you will make later in the essay at this point, without going into too much detail.


SUGGESTED BODY POINTS:

Fate and manipulation: The witches set all the events in motion in Act 1 scene 3 when they tell Macbeth he will be king. Every time he visits them they trick him with more prophesies.

Macbeth struggles with the question of whether he has free will or is completely controlled by Fate. Macbeth is interested when he hears about how he could be king. He has not put any thought into a murder until his wife suggests it. Macbeth is always in conflict with himself and at times he feels powerless. Macbeth’s soliloquies reflect his difficulties in understanding Fate vs. free will.

Macbeth is a tragic hero who is manipulated by Fate to commit murder. Tragic heroes always have a flaw that causes their downfall. Macbeth’s tragic flaw is his ambition. When he is told by the witches that he will be king he begins to commit many murders to achieve the crown. He is manipulated by the witches and his wife and he suffers for it.

Macbeth and Lady “seal their Fate” by committing the numerous murders and fulfilling the prophesies of the witches. They both suffer from delusion, insecurity, and insomnia as a result of their guilt. They enter a “Hell” of their own creation. Scotland itself becomes a sort of Hell during Macbeth’s short reign. The natural world is in chaos and horrible events such as murder occur. Despite all their efforts to alter their Fate and to take Fate into their own hands, the prophesies still come true.

-You should fully explore the theme of Fate as it relates to the events in the play and the characters.
-Ask yourself if the characters believe in Fate, or free will, or if they are undecided.
-How do characters’ views of Fate change throughout the course of the play?
-Does everything the witches say come true?

SUGGESTED QUOTATIONS:

“Life’s but a walking shadow…. Signifying nothing.” (5.5.24-29)

After the death of his wife, Macbeth compares life to a meaningless play. It exemplifies how powerless he now feels against the forces of Fate.


“I think our country sinks beneath the yoke;… Is added to her wounds.” (4.3.39-41)

Macduff compares Macbeth’s Scotland an overworked animal that will soon collapse.


“Fair is foul and foul is fair.” (1.1.10)

The witches comment on Fate of Scotland under Macbeth’s rule. The good has left and has been replaced by the evil. Things are not as they seem.


“And oftentimes, to win us to our harm…The instruments of darkness tell us truths…” (1.3.123-124)

Banquo warns Macbeth not to listen to the witches’ talk of Fate. He believes that no good can come of attempting to control one’s Fate. This passage foreshadows the harm that will come to the nation of Scotland if Macbeth listens to the witches.


“Is this a dagger I see before me… Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?”
(2.1.33-39)

As Fate begins to urge Macbeth to commit the murder he begins see an imaginary dagger pointing the way. It is when he feels the most conflicted that Fate shows him that he should murder King Duncan and become king.


“Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown… No son of mine succeeding.” (3.1.61-64)

Macbeth admits that he is a pawn of Fate and the witches, and all his possible actions will achieve the same results. He knows at this point that his rule is doomed and he keeps committing murders.


CONCLUSION:

-Tie all your points together.
-Did you prove your thesis? If not go back to the body of the essay!
-Re-stress the thesis
-Use a quote that summarizes your main point. “Life is but a walking shadow…. (5.5.24-29) would be great!

The theme of Fate permeates the entire text. Macbeth himself comments several times about how he is the witches’ pawn. Since the witches represent a fatalistic ideal they can be considered a physical representation of Fate and its powers. Despite Lady Macbeth’s insistence that Macbeth has free will and he can carve his own destiny, it is Fate (the witches’ prophesy) that causes Lady Macbeth to consider the murder in the first place. She is therefore, a more willing pawn of Fate without realizing it. Macbeth, who starts to realize more and more that he is not in control of his own Fate, lives longer than his wife. He must also live with his Fate because his actions are futile. He knows the circumstances that will cause his death and as soon as the signs reveal themselves (Birnam Wood comes to his castle, Macduff is not “of woman born”) yet he still struggles against them. He is an unwilling but defeated pawn of Fate.

TIPS FOR WRITING A GOOD ESSAY

INTRO:

-Begin with a strong statement that introduces you topic.

-If your topic is “The American Dream in Death of a Salesman” a good first sentence might be “In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller presents the concept of the American Dream and how attempting to achieve the American Dream can lead to failure.”

-This statement offers an insightful hook that will grab the reader’s attention right away.

-Lead up to the thesis statement (what you will prove or argue) by hinting at what your essay will prove and make sure it looks well-planned.

-Make sure the thesis statement is something that you can argue, a standpoint rather than an opinion. Don’t be vague, be clear!

-Briefly include some points that you essay will cover and how they relate to the theme and topic without going into detail.

-Make sure you link the intro to the next paragraph.

-Make sure you follow whatever format your instructor expects. Ask!


BODY PARAGRAPHS:


-Make sure each paragraph presents a clear idea that gets enough attention.

-Don’t use “filler” because teachers can spot it!

-Use enough quotes (but not too many) that will support your argument.

-If an idea does not support your argument, or contradict it, DON’T USE IT!

-Never use more words than the maximum. If it is 1500-2000 words, aim for 1600


CONCLUSION:


-Make sure you wrap things up and restate your thesis in different words.

-Make sure you don’t offer any totally new ideas: They are for the body!

-This is a great place to use a quote that summarizes your overall argument.

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