Free Will v. Predestination - Third Period

11/13/2012

Act I Scene III

It is said that the unspoken conflict in Macbeth is between free will and predestination; the subtle part of this study is the contrast of Macbeth and Banquo. Before responding, consider the witches and their affect on each character, how each character initially responds, how each character responds to their environment from thereafter, and what makes this conflict 'unspoken'. Question: Explain how free will and predestination shape a major unspoken conflict in Macbeth.

(Starts around line 50)

8 Comments

Nebojsa Varagic

11/15/2012 08:28:40 am

Macbeth and Banquo have different perspectives about the witches and their statements. Macbeth always wants to hear more from the witches and always believes what they say and expect that to happen. On the other side Banquo doesn't like to listen to the witches and what they say doesn't really bother him. I feel like Macbeth will be in more trouble because he will not think for himself but instead he will expect what the witches said will happen.

Terry Orris

11/15/2012 12:42:31 pm

Banquo is, in my point of view, jealous of Macbeth. I think when the three witches came and spoke of macbeths future, banquo thought something wasnt right, maybe how it should be him?

Detrus

11/15/2012 10:05:26 pm

I think Macbeth I'd an interesting story so far I can't wait to learn more!!

Ashleigh Wood

11/16/2012 06:28:04 am

Lady Macbeth wanted Macbeth to kill the king but she said that he was a coward & that he was not fit for the job but then Macbeth goes right along with it because he doesn't want to look like a coward & he wants to plase Lady Macbeth & wants to show her that he isn't all those things that she said he was.

Bethany Saylor

11/17/2012 10:15:25 pm

Mac Beth hears the things the witches say and it kind of messes with his head. I feel like the free will part comes from them doing what they want. The witches have a very strong effect on all of the characters though.

Steely Sims

11/18/2012 08:21:11 am

In my mind I imagine it somewhat like a car with GPS. The witches prophesy would be like the GPS, and its taking Macbeth to a predestination (being king). Macbeth always has the free will to do what he wants, or he can let greed of becoming king set in and compel him to take the predestination.

Shelby Edwards

11/18/2012 09:51:54 am

In macbeth, the witches tell him what his future is going to be like so he is going to thrive to accomplish what they said. He doesnt really have a free will anymore. And when the witches tell Banquo and Macbeth, Banquo is interested but Macbeth wants to know more and more.

Nemanja Bundalo

11/18/2012 12:15:06 pm

Free will is basically what you want. In Macbeth his free will is to be king, and he will do anything to get that. When he met the witches and they told him he would be king soon he wanted to know more right then and there. It started to drive him insane knowing what he knew and he decided to make a plan to kill the current king to become king. His free will made it possible to plan! Free will let's people do what they want and what they think is right, what makes them happy and in Macbeth his free will is that he wants to be king!

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Free Will v. Predestination - Third Period

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