fate in Macbeth

Fate plays a large role in Shakespeare's Macbeth. Not only do the weird sisters use it to wreak havoc among the Scottish nobility, but many people throughout the play try to tempt fate. Macbeth does it, as does Lady Macbeth. Then, later in the play, even Malcolm, Macduff and the other revolutionaries try to alter fate. Fate can be many things to many different people. To those who believe that fate is an all-encompassing aspect …

…one's own self and one's own abilities is a positive use of fate. However, becoming over confident in or basing one's few momentous decisions on fate rather than fact is not a wise undertaking. Fate is like religion and any other belief based on intangible ideas: it can be a good excuse to not take control of one's own life and one's own decisions. When fate supersedes free will, then chaos is bound to follow.