How Does Macbeth Control His Own Fate

Macbeth is a man in control of his own fate
Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ tells the story of Macbeth, a once ‘worthy gentleman’ as he slays his way to become king of Scotland, killing whoever stands in his way. Fate plays a significant role in how Macbeth acts; guiding him to act and do things that he doesn’t necessarily intend on doing so at first, but as the play unfolds he becomes determined to do whatever it takes to maintain his reign as king. Macbeth controls his own fate as he murders Duncan, the king of Scotland, to become king, despite his own persistence not to kill him. Macbeth takes action into his own hands as he orders the murder of Banquo, his former good friend, as he sees him as a threat to his crown. Upon hearing of apparitions from the witches, Macbeth takes matters into his own hands and murders the wife and whole castle of macduff, thane of fife, as he poses as a threat to Macbeth. Some would argue that it is the influence of other characters in the
‘I am bent to know by the worst means the worst.’ Macbeth is very well aware of the villainous deeds that he has committed and the destructive path he has left behind. ‘I am stepped in so far, that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er’. Macbeth’s admission of wrongdoings but, rather than deciding on stopping, continues to carry on with unlawful acts reinforces the notion that Macbeth was indeed in control of his own fate. Upon hearing of the apparitions from the witches that tell him of his destiny, Macbeth decides that ‘the very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstlings of my hand’ and in doing so orders the seizure of macduff’s castle and the murder of his line of descendants. This supports the idea that Macbeth was responsible for his own actions which, ultimately, brought upon his downfall, at the hands of