The Pursuit to Protect Power

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decision to kill Macduff’s family ultimately leads Macbeth to his defeat due to his attempt at controlling his fate. After Macbeth kills Macduff’s family, Macduff becomes infuriated and decides he wants to kill Macbeth. Macbeth’s army surrenders to Macduff, which allows Macduff to easily find Macbeth and announce his intentions of defeating Macbeth. Macbeth, not easily discouraged responds,“And thou opposed, being of no woman born, / Yet I will try the last. Before my body / I throw my warlike shield” (5. 8. 31-33). Macbeth enters the battle with Macduff aware that he was “of no woman born,” meaning he was not directly birthed by a woman. Macduff not being born from a woman excludes him from the second apparition’s statement that no man born from a woman is capable of harming Macbeth. Thus, Macbeth is aware that Macduff is capable of defeating him yet he decides “I will try the last,” meaning he will fight, despite his fate, until he dies. Macbeth’s desire to control his own fate ultimately leads him to his death bed.

Ultimately, Macbeth was killed by Macduff due to his desire to control his fate and ensure the power he already had through attempts to discourage Macduff. By killing Macduff’s family, in hopes of controlling his fate, Macbeth only further initiated the battle that eventually led to his death. Had Macbeth not been presented with the second apparition he may have not had the initiative to control his own fate by seeking to kill Macduff and his family. A person can be burdened by knowing what is to come, thus, even if the future was to be known one should not look to control or alter it rather accept what is to come.

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