Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: The Choices MacBeth Made That Decided His Own Fate

A self-fulfilling prophecy is a statement that alters one’s actions and evokes a behavior from a person/character which makes the originally false statement come true (Wisegeek). For example, one might say, “Today is going to be a great day!” Which will alter a persons actions in a way that will actually make this prediction come true. William Shakespeare’s, The Tragedy of Macbeth, uses self-fulfilling prophecy in a subtle yet foreshadowing way to prepare and unfurl the thoughts and actions of his characters. This tragedy, written in the early 1600’s, was composed mainly to appeal new interests around London. It is a depiction of a noble, along with his wife, who brutally slaughters a King and his kinsman so that he may be the King (Shakespeare xiii). Even after killing the king though, Macbeth realizes that his dynasty will be short. So he tells people to murder his successors. My belief that Macbeth is an example of self-fulfilling prophecy stems from the early foreshadowing in the play. “By Sinel’s death I know I am Thane of Glamis./ But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives” (Shakespeare 19). Through this quote near the beginning of the play, Shakespeare reveals the slight interest Macbeth has for the unexpected title that the witches called him. He goes on to say a short time later,”This is supernatural soliciting/ Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill/ Why hath it given me earnest of success/ Commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor./ If good, why do i yield to that suggestion/ Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair/ And make my seated heart knock at my ribs” (Shakespeare 23). Macbeth declares that he is unsure if it happened by chance or if the Witches had predicted it. Are the witches trying to present Macbeth with a thought that if he wants it or shows an interest that he can obtain it? It is not written, but with an argument, I believe that when Macbeth was first introduced to the thought of the witches calling him “Thane of Cawdor,” it excited