Prophecies in tragedies

I was certain I was not the only one who had realized that the first prophecy was a set up for the entire plot. The storyline in Macbeth would not have moved pass act 1 scene 2 if Macbeth and Banquo had not eavesdropped on the three witches’ gathering. Unlike the other prophecies in act 4, the very first one is a self fulfilling prophecy. Macbeth did not sit back and wait to name King, he took charge of the matter. Similar to Oedipus the King, he meddled with his fate and that probably caused his downfall. I can’t help but wonder if the prophecy caused the actions or the actions were to be predicted. In both Macbeth and Oedipus the King the revelations seem to provoke the actions especially in Macbeth where the witches appear to be maleficent and may have orchestrated his despair. Prophecies in tragedies are ambiguous which would also explain why our tragic heroes have falling to their death so ironically. Macbeth was not told how he would be King? Nor was he to know that MacDuff “was from his mother’s womb/untimely ripped” (5.8.19-20). No wonder Macbeth thought he was invincible. One thing for sure, knowing what the future has in store for us can be very dangerous.

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2 Responses to Prophecies in tragedies

  1. sh106046 says:

    I agree with you. If it was never implanted in Macbeth’s head that he would become King, would he really have ventured to try and get the throne for himself? And, if he didn’t mention the witches to Lady Macbeth, would she have been so adamant about him murdering everyone around him to get the throne?
    However, I think it’s also noteworthy that these sorts of situations (where people are given a tremendous power by knowing something about the future) determine what kind of person you are. Macbeth is such a contrast to Banquo, who didn’t try to murder anyone, despite his prophecy. Here, you get a sense of each person’s true character.

  2. PBerggren says:

    Fate is not random, in other words. Macbeth has been singled out because whatever governs our actions sees his vulnerabilities and creates the circumstances that will ultimately bring him to destroy himself.

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