Determinism And Free Will In Macbeth

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Philosophers and writers for centuries have questioned the nature of good and evil, and human choices in between. Shakespeare’s Tragedy of Macbeth invites the reader to question the role of free will and determinism as we consider the guilt of its main character (Macbeth). I believe if one believes in good, one should also believe in evil; we freely choose between them and must accept the consequences of those actions. Macbeth is just being consumed with his own ambition and thirst for power, and he freely chooses to kill others. Macbeth may have been influenced, but he has a rational mind, therefore knew he was doing wrong, and is therefore responsible. Philosophical analysts can argue that biological determinism, free will, and environmental aspects were Macbeth’s downfall causing him to commit evil deeds. However, even though these can be argued Macbeth still had the free will to make his own decisions. “The ‘Adamic’ myth and the ‘eschatological vision’ of history”, is the anthropological myth (“fall” narrative) of Paul Ricouer’s Myths of evil in Biblical Perspective. In its purity, this myth clearly exonerates God of all complicity in evil, God …show more content…

In this society men were celebrated, by killing in the war and being strong during the wars and in times. For example in Act 1 scene 2, when the Captain was talking to King Duncan about the war he said, “Till he faced the slave; Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, till he unseamed him from the nave to th' chops, and fixed his head upon our battlements,” and King Duncan replied with pride, “O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!” Maybe this made the violent behavior and thoughts escalate until plotting a treason a murder the king because perhaps they were celebrating his murderous behavior. I think Macbeth was very caught up in the

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