Essay: Explore Blind Ambition in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Fahad Ali
Mrs. Denomme and Ms. Fox
English 12
07 January 2019
The Tragedy of Blind Ambition
It is believed that fate has the power to forge one’s destiny. The outcome of a person’s choices are in the hands of some uncontrollable force and will occur in the way they are destined to occur. On the other hand, free will is said to be the ability to act upon one’s own decisions and that fate only manipulates one into choosing their own path. In William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, the play touches on the idea of fate and free will. In the beginning of the play, it seems as though Macbeth is a pawn of fate falling in line with the prophecies of the three witches and actions of Lady Macbeth. In reality, however, Macbeth is no mere pawn of fate. He freely chooses to allow the witches and his wife to influence him into committing murder. Thus, Macbeth ultimately acts as an agent of free will.
Macbeth, a once respected, honorable soldier, allows himself to be influenced by the three witches and fall victim to homicide. In their first meeting, the witches called Macbeth the Thane of Glamis and the Thane of Cawdor though he was not yet crowned this position. They also say he shall be king hereafter. This news stirs in Macbeth’s head. Not too long after the witches disappeared, Ross approached and informed Macbeth of his new position as Thane of Cawdor. Having heard this, Macbeth begins to believe. In an aside Macbeth states, “Two truths are told/ As happy prologues to the swelling act/ of the imperial theme” (1.3.126-129). Macbeth saw this as progress to the throne. Because of his ambition to sit on the throne, Macbeth cannot help but think horrid thoughts as he said, “If good, why do I yield to that suggestion/ Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair/ and make my seated heart knock at my ribs…” (1.3.135-137). With the thought of murdering King Duncan, Macbeth does not sit patiently when King Duncan crowned his son, Malcolm, as heir to the throne. In an aside Macbeth stated, “The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step/ On which I must fall down or else o’erleap/ For in my way it lies” (1.4.48-50). Although the witches initially suggested kinghood for Macbeth, he chose to accept the idea of murder. Therefore, not even the mere thought of murder can be blamed on the witches, but Macbeth himself.
Because the blame cannot be places on the witches, it is shifted to Lady Macbeth’s role as an accomplice that also does not clear Macbeth of guilt. Lady Macbeth acted as the “spur/ To prick the sides of [Macbeth’s] intent [to murder King Duncan]” (1.7.25-26). In the moment Macbeth wanted to forget about the murder plot he shared with his wife. He “will proceed no further in this business” (1.7.31). With this being said, Lady Macbeth emotionally manipulated Macbeth into killing Duncan. She accused the ambitious, power-hungry Macbeth of being a coward, saying “Wouldst thou have that/ Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life,/ And live a coward in thine own esteem…” (1.7.41-43). To this, Macbeth replied, “Prithee, peace:/ I dare do all that may become a man./ Who dares do more is none” (1.7.45-47). Here he stated he will do whatever that is necessary for a man, but nothing more as this would lead him astray and into the lower beings. Lady Macbeth then claimed he had sworn to her that he would kill Duncan and by refusing to do so, Macbeth would be breaking an oath. That did it for Macbeth. He gave in to the idea of murder and ultimately chose to adhere to his wife’s persuasions. Thus, he is still an agent of free will despite being influenced by his wife.
Although many factors contributed to influencing the actions Macbeth committed, it was ultimately his decisions that led to his downfall. His greed for power was the beginning of the end. After Macbeth’s regicide, he no longer needed the witches or a cunning wife to push him towards evil: he deliberately caused his own demise. Macbeth displayed his free and conscious will when he decided to murder the king’s guards. Macbeth’s murder of his best friend, Banquo, also exemplified his descent to the dark side. Macbeth recalled the prophecy of the witches having said,
…They hailed [Banquo] father to a line of kings.
Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown
And put a barren scepter in my grip,
Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand,
No son of mine succeeding (3.1.60-64).
Macbeth feared the truth of this prophecy therefore called upon murderers to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance. After the death of Banquo, Macbeth’s guilt manifested itself as Banquo’s ghost at the royal banquet table. In front of all the Scottish noblemen, Macbeth said to Banquo’s ghost, whom only he saw, “Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake/ Thy gory locks at me” (3.4.50.51). Macbeth’s actions and statements tipped off Macduff and the Thanes, thus lead to his ruin.
Poor Macbeth allowed himself to be played once more by the witches. He approached them and demanded to see his future. The witches brought forth apparitions that told Macbeth, “Beware Macduff/ …none of woman born/ Shall harm Macbeth./ Macbeth shall never vanquished be until/ Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill/ Shall come against him” (4.1.71-94). Macbeth’s reaction to the witches’ second set of prophecies proved that he himself is to be blamed for his demise. With his newfound knowledge, Macbeth decided to take action upon the prophecy about Macduff by having Macduff’s wife, son, and servants killed. This mass murder, although based on the witches’ prophecy, is Macbeth’s own doing. He acts independently as an agent of free will and is responsible for his killings.
As the title of the play suggests, Macbeth’s ambition and hunger for power is a true tragedy. His need to sit upon the throne is responsible for the deaths of King Duncan and his servants, Lady Macduff and her son, and in the end, Macbeth himself. The witches seemed to be an initial cause of Macbeth’s downfall, but it is Macbeth’s fault for allowing the prophecy to propel him to murder and corruption. Lady Macbeth may have manipulated him into the murder of King Duncan, but it was his decision to listen to her ill-omened intentions. The death of Macduff’s family can be blamed on no one but Macbeth himself. Thus, it can hardly be argued that Macbeth is a pawn of fate. Rather, Macbeth creates his own tragic resumé, freely killing his way to his own demise.