Provide and explain 4€“5 quotes in Macbeth that explores the idea of Macbeth being ruled by fate.

The
issue of fate first arises in 's in act 1, scene 3, whenappear toandand
make prophecies to each of them.

Are the prophecies possibilities,
eventualities, or certainties? Do the witches shape Macbeth and Banquo's destinies, influence
them, or simply reveal them? Is it necessary that Macbeth or Banquo actually do anything to
fulfill the prophecies, or will the prophecies simply fulfill themselves?

Macbeth raises that question himself.

MACBETH: If
chance will have me king, why, chance
may crown me
Without my stir.
(1.3.155€“157)

is the first person in the play who
considers the prophecies as fateas a predetermined, inevitable, unchangeable, uncontrollable
course of events affecting Macbeth's life. Until Lady Macbeth appears in the play, Macbeth has
thought of the witches simply as seers or prophets, not as harbingers of his fate, and he's
considered the prophecies as possibilities, not immutable facts.

At the
beginning of act 1, scene 5, Lady Macbeth is reading a letter from Macbeth telling her about the
witches and the prophecies. She seems not to question for even a moment the role of fate in the
prophecies.

LADY MACBETH. Hie thee hither,
That I
may pour my spirits in thine ear,
And chastise with the valor of my tongue
All
that impedes thee from the golden round,
Which fate and metaphysical aid doth
seem
To have thee crown'd withal.
(1.5.22€“27)

Lady Macbeth decides to do
whatever she can, by whatever means she can, to ensure that Macbeth's fate is fulfilled. A
messenger arrives to tell Lady Macbeth that Kingis coming to Macbeth's castle, and the
inevitability of Macbeth's fate becomes apparent to Lady Macbeth. The circumstances that allow
for Macbeth to become king are already changing in his favor.

The prophecy to
Banquo, "Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none" (1.3.70), is often overlooked as a
factor in Macbeth's fate. Macbeth recognizes this possibility early in the play. He raises the
issue twice in act 1, scene 3. The first time he mentions it is shortly after the witches exit
the scene, after making their prophecies.

MACBETH. Your
children shall be kings. (1.3.89)

Macbeth raises the
issue again aftertells Macbeth that he's now Thane of Cawdor, which, to Macbeth's mind, lends
significant, troubling credence to the prophecies.

MACBETH. Do you not hope your children shall be kings,
When those that gave
the Thane of Cawdor to me
Promised no less to them? (1.3.127€“129)

In act 3, scene 1, after he has become king, Macbeth is still
thinking about the prophecy to Banquo. Macbeth believes that simply fulfilling the prophecy
about becoming king isn't sufficient to maintain his throne, because the
prophecy to Banquo could manifest itself at any moment. Paradoxically, Macbeth calls on
his fate to help him change Banquo's fate.

MACBETH. ...For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind,
For
them the gracious Duncan have I murdered,
Put rancors in the vessel of my
peace
Only for them, and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of
man,
To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!
Rather than so,
come, Fate, into the list,
And champion me to the utterance!
(3.1.69€“76)

Although Macbeth's fate and
Banquo's fate are intertwined, their fates aren't necessarily exclusive. Their fates needn't
occur at the same time but can conceivably be sequential, not necessarily immediate. Macbeth
fears, however, thator another of Banquo's sons not yet born will challenge him for the throne
and possibly kill him, and that such action is imminent.

Macbeth fails to
consider that one of Banquo's sons might simply assume the throne by some means other than by
killing Macbethperhaps even after Macbeth's natural death. What motivates Macbeth at this point,
however, is not simply staying alive and remaining king, but also providing for his
posterity.

One argument against fate ruling Macbeth's life is found in 's
speech in act 3, scene 5.

HECATE. ... [T]his night I'll
spend
Unto a dismal and a fatal end.
Great business must be wrought ere
noon:
Upon the corner of the moon
There hangs a vaporous drop
profound;
I'll catch it ere it come to ground.
And that distill'd by magic
sleights
Shall raise such artificial sprites
As by the strength of their
illusion
Shall draw him on to his confusion.
He shall spurn fate,
scorn death, and bear
His hopes bove wisdom, grace, and
fear. (3.5.20€“31)

Hecate intends to use her
magic to confuse Macbeth and make him behave irrationally. In this speech, Hecate suggests that
she can control Macbeth's actions, but the audience never sees Hecate actually put her plan into
effect.

It's important to remember that many Shakespeare scholars believe
that the character of Hecate was added to the play by another playwright at a later time. This
might account for what appears to be Hecate's manipulation of Macbeth's fate or her attempt to
influence Macbeth's actions, which might not represent Shakespeare's original intent.

In the apparition scene in act 4, scene 1, Macbeth again tempts fate after an
apparition tells him that "none of woman born" can harm him.

SECOND APPARITION. Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh
to
scorn
The power of man, for none of woman born
Shall harm
Macbeth.

MACBETH. Then live, . What need I fear of thee?
But yet
I'll make assurance double sure,
And take a bond of fate: thou shalt not
live,
That I may tell pale-hearted fear it
lies,
And sleep in spite of thunder.
(4.1.87€“95)

Macbeth takes these two pronouncements by
the apparitions to support his vision of his invincibility and the inevitability of his victory
over Macduff, but little does he realize that his vision of his fate and the actual course of
events in his life might well be two completely different things.