Macbeth is given prophecies by the witches and he is
encouraged to act on these suggestions by Lady Macbeth, but he ultimately makes the
choices to murder Duncan, Macduff's family and Banquo. The fact that Macbeth does feel
guilt (and fear of being caught and losing the throne) reveals his subconscious anxiety.
If Macbeth truly felt that he was just at the mercy of fate (courtesy of the witches'
prophecies) then he would have no misgivings about carrying out his crimes. The fact
that Macbeth agonizes over his crimes reveals that he knows (consciously or
subconsciously) that the responsibility is partly or all
his.
Macbeth is never forced to do what he does. The
witches give him visions. Macbeth confers with his wife and she encourages him to commit
the crimes. You can make the argument that, had the witches never presented him with
these prophecies, he would never have even thought up this scheme. But he chooses to
carry it out.
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