'Fate and Free Will' in Macbeth: Key Quotes & Analysis

Studying Macbeth? Dr Aidan, PhD in Shakespeare, provides you with the second key theme in Macbeth - Fate and Free Will. With in-depth analysis of key quotes, this second video on the key themes in Macbeth aims to help you gain a greater understanding of the play in a matter of minutes.

Quick, relaxed, and informative, The Complete Guide to Shakespeare aims to make the plays accessible to everyone.

Music Credits: El Patio, Orquestra Arrecife, (Jamendo Licensing)

Cross and Crown By j4p4n
Angel wings By liftarn
Devil silhouette 2 By Firkin
Shakespeare characters - Lady Macbeth By Firkin
Shakespeare characters - French king By Firkin
Shakespeare characters - Cassio (colour)By Firkin
Map of Scotland By Anonymous
Retiarius Gladiator By algotruneman

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[_ranch]

This is very helpful ! I have to write an essay and needed some help, really enjoyed this. Thank you 😊

[mcdonaldshappymeal]

thank you very much this is such a great video and such clearly explained with great evidence please continue to make such fantastic videos

[joeessen]

I used your videos for Romeo and Juliet last year, and am using it for Macbeth this year! Your videos are very helpful!

[mangogo]

Good luck to those QCE students cramming like me xD

[rehya]

Firstly, I am loving these videos! They are so helpful- could you make another on the theme Kingship Vs Tyranny?
Thx!

[tonystark]

God bless you. My IB English HL essay is due tomorrow and this is my topic and I haven't even gotten to it yet.

[Livkiria]

you should really do more of these for the rest of the themes in macbeth

[liambarker]

Thank you Dr Aidan - I have to write an essay on whether Macbeth is evil, or was it rather due to the influential people around him...
So torn as to what stance to take...please help ?

[freeya]

This is very helpful, thank you so much😊

[lydiawatson]

can I write how I believe its fate as well as freewill or do I have to pick one?

[greenislovley]

lol I'm watching this the night before my exam

[watertower]

Who is watching this for fun and has no allegiance to any school system

[natomasfaha]

This video really helped thank you very much

[nazmulgani]

Very good. Sir, could you please explain the role of FATE in Macbeth's downfall and tragedy?

[noeltroy]

Nice video. Thank you. Played Macduff many years ago. Seems like another life. Free will is the biggest delusion of all. It does not exist. In any shape or form. Everything happens in life. Nobody does anything. To "do" is to "be" if one could really do one would be God. "it doesn't matter if it happens today, tomorrow, or never, ripeness is all" hamlet. The ripeness Shakespeare refers to is "being" "to be, or not to be" that really is the question above all others. For more on "being" see the poetry of Rilke and the philosophy of nietzsche

[suikatime]

I think that the Witches gave him an idea that he would have never had otherwise. Do I misunderstand?

[lottiewood]

Thank you so much for these videos they're so helpful!!! :) I was just wondering why the dramatic irony of us already knowing he has been chosen for Thane of Cawdor makes us empathise with him believing the prophecies might be correct but also makes us think he's being deceived? Thank you

[ethanstuff]

Hi do you think you could post a transcript?

[bluee]

Hey there Doc. So, I'm really enjoying your videos, but here you said that when Macbeth kills Duncan that's the first (and the only time?) he's using his free will. But how do we know that the witches were not merely telling Macbeth of his fate and that killing Duncan was not a part of his pre-determined destiny? Or that the witches were not just playing with Macbeth to see what he would do? Later in the play, we also see Hecate being angry with the witches for meddling in Macbeth's life/fate and playing with his mind, and saying that they now must concoct a potion to fix this (if I recall correctly). Could you please explain? (And possibly make more such videos on Macbeth 'cause I have an exam coming up soon? Haha... 😅) Thanks!

[priyapanday]

Sir plz give important quotations of As you like it