I.Iii. Macbeth S Antithetical Arguments

I.iii. Macbeth’s Antithetical Arguments

After the witches deliver their message to Macbeth, he is torn about whether their “prophecy” is good or bad. GOOD BAD

The witches’ first two things they told me were true. It This supernatural temptation can’t be a good thing would stand to reason that the third will as well. either.

Their supernatural temptation doesn’t seem to be bad. If this is a good thing, why do I find myself thinking If it was bad, why was I promised a promotion that about murdering King Duncan, a thought so horrifying turned out to be true? I’m the Thane of Cawdor like that it makes my hair stand on end and my heart pound they said I would be. inside my chest?

It stands to reason, then, that I will become king. Even though it’s just a fantasy so far, the thought of committing murder shakes me up so much that I hardly know who I am anymore.

My ability to act is stifled by my thoughts and speculations, and the only things that matter to me are things that don’t really exist.

FINAL CONCLUSION: If fate wants me to be king, perhaps fate will just make it happen and I won’t have to do anything.