An Altered DestinyThe Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare is an illustration of the supernatural and power of suggestion. This play opens with three suspenseful witches chanting a spell. The mood is gloomy, and the wicked and powerful appearance of the witches is bestowed upon us. As the devilish sisters continue their spell, it shows the powers the witches will hold over Macbeth. This also foreshadows the plans the witches will profess in the future.The devious and manipulating witches find Macbeth and insist their first prophecies onto him. They offer Macbeth his future and reveal he will become Thane ...view middle of the document...
The prophecies are fulfilled as the witches commanded.It is easy to believe that these wicked women encouraged the downfall of Macbeth. Hecate admits she did not think highly of him as she says, "By the pricking of my thumbs something wicked this way comes" (Act IV, s1, l 44-45).The witches gave Macbeth a second set of prophecies. He is told to beware of Macduff; on the other hand, any man born of woman can not harm him. He is also told not to worry about the rebellion until Birnam Wood attacks Dunsinane Hill, which is seemingly impossible. This gives Macbeth a false sense of security and overconfidence. He takes pride in the prophecies and keeps them close to his heart.Macbeth soon realizes the deception and misconceptions of the witches. The revelations encourage him to fight the rebellion without much preparation. "And you all know security is mortal's chiefest enemy" (Act III, s5, l 30-34). Soon the positive proclamations Macbeth dwelled on turn out to deceive him. Birnam Wood attacks his castle, and Macduff, untimely ripped from the womb, beheads Macbeth in battle.If Macbeth had not received the prophecies, his fate would have drastically differed. Nonetheless, Macbeth took heed to them, and they in turn ruled his destiny. The manipulating and convincing witches fed him the motivation to kill his countrymen and become proud and overconfident. This lead to his gruesome death. The prophecies from the witches made Macbeth the famous tragedy it is today.