Fate and free will in Macbeth

What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won

Duncan · Act 1, Scene 2 · kingship · fate and free will

A traitor loses his title. Macbeth gets it. He gets a traitor's name before he does anything wrong.

Lesser than Macbeth and greater

Witches · Act 1, Scene 3 · fate and free will · the supernatural

The witches tell Banquo he is lower than Macbeth, but higher too. His sons will be kings.

Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none

Witches · Act 1, Scene 3 · fate and free will · kingship

Banquo will never be king. But his children will. Macbeth cannot forget this.

If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me Without my stir

Macbeth · Act 1, Scene 3 · ambition · fate and free will

Macbeth says he will wait and let luck make him king. He cannot wait.

Thou hast it now--king, Cawdor, Glamis, all As the Weird Women promised, and I fear Thou played'st most foully for 't

Banquo · Act 3, Scene 1 · kingship · fate and free will · guilt

Banquo sees it. Macbeth has everything the witches said. He got it by murder.

Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown And put a barren scepter in my grip

Macbeth · Act 3, Scene 1 · kingship · fate and free will

Macbeth has a crown but no son to give it to. That eats him.

It will have blood, they say; blood will have blood

Macbeth · Act 3, Scene 4 · violence · guilt · fate and free will

Blood wants more blood. One murder needs another.

Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him

Apparition · Act 4, Scene 1 · fate and free will · the supernatural · appearance and reality

A forest cannot walk, so Macbeth thinks he is safe. The army carries branches.

What's done cannot be undone

Lady Macbeth · Act 5, Scene 1 · guilt · fate and free will

She used to say 'what is done is done' to calm him. Now the words are about her.

She should have died hereafter

Macbeth · Act 5, Scene 5 · fate and free will · guilt

His wife is dead. He says she would have died some time anyway. That is all he says.

It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing

Macbeth · Act 5, Scene 5 · fate and free will

Life is a story told by a fool. It means nothing. This is where wanting more ends.

I 'gin to be aweary of the sun

Macbeth · Act 5, Scene 5 · fate and free will · guilt

He is tired of the sun. He wants the world to end.

I bear a charmèd life, which must not yield To one of woman born

Macbeth · Act 5, Scene 8 · fate and free will · the supernatural · appearance and reality

Macbeth still trusts the witches. The next line breaks him.

Macduff was from his mother's womb Untimely ripped

Macduff · Act 5, Scene 8 · fate and free will · the supernatural · appearance and reality

Macduff was cut out of his mother, not born. So the spell does not protect Macbeth.

Lay on, Macduff, And damned be him that first cries "Hold! Enough!"

Macbeth · Act 5, Scene 8 · violence · fate and free will

His last words. He fights even though he knows he will lose.