Macbeth - Free Will Versus Fate

In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the hero is initially fated to be king by the Weird Sisters, though it is his ambitious desire to obtain the crown that contributes to his own choice to commit evil acts by which he fulfills his destiny. This suggests that man's fate is predetermined, but human actions will ultimately determine how man will reach his fate. The poor decisions that essentially lead up to Macbeth’s demise are the murder of King Duncan, his ignorance to the predictions that the Weird Sisters give him, and the continuous murdering of innocent people. One may suggest that Macbeth's fate may be set in stone, but it was Macbeth's chosen path that slowly led him to his final fate – his death.
The theme of free will versus fate echoes throughout Macbeth and is developed already in the first act of the play when Macbeth and Banquo are confronted by the Weird Sisters.   “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” On the heath, the three witches predict Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland. (Act 1, Scene 3, lines 52-53) Banquo is also given the prophecy “thou shalt get kings”, thereby saying that Banquo's heirs shall one day rule. (Act 1, Scene 3, line 70)   These prophecies are what set the action of the play in motion.
Macbeth had the ability to choose his own fate as soon as he made the decision to stop and listen to the witches. Instead of distancing himself from the Weird Sisters, Macbeth decides that their words are important and says, "Stay, you imperfect speakers. Tell me more." (Act 1, Scene 3, line 73)   He continues and says, “By Sinel’s death I know I am Thane of Glamis. But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives a prosperous gentleman, and to be king stands not within the prospect of belief, no more than to be Cawdor.” (Act 1, Scene 3, lines 74-78) These words suggest the question of whether Macbeth is lying to himself. In the previous scene Ross tells the...