Introduction
An Old English poem Beowulf was written by an unknown author approximately at the end of the VII century. It is an epic with alliterative verses in the Germanic glorious story genre. Macbeth is a drama play written and composed by William Shakespeare, who was a prominent English author. A predefined path of occurrences is regarded as destiny or fate. It might be considered a predestined future, either in general or for a specific person. In Beowulf and Macbeth, both main characters were significantly influenced by fate; nevertheless, it was feasible for them to make separate decisions and obtain control over life’s happenings.
Beowulf and Macbeth
In essence, fate interprets life’s situations by attributing them to an invisible force’s intention. When there is no person to accuse or no evident explanation for positive or negative events that occur, fate alludes to the end conclusion or destiny. Even though the Anglo-Saxons had been forcibly turned into Christianity by the period Beowulf was composed, pagan ideas, for instance, the concept of fate, were a substantial component of their worldview. Beowulf, the mythical Anglo-Saxon hero, represents a noble attitude to fate, yet in certain ways, he exemplifies the behavior of a lone warrior. Human destiny is generally determined by one deity in Judeo-Christian society. No supreme beings in the Anglo-Saxon religion are concerned enough about a person’s circumstances to seek to influence their fate. In terms of destiny and fate, concerning the battle with the monster at the end of the story, Beowulf states that he “meant to stand, stand till fate determines which of us wins” (Beowulf). Moreover, Beowulf’s clan, the Geats, is concerned that he has no successor when he approaches the end of his existence, which is a subject of fate.
Considering the question of fate and destiny in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the ghosts reveal Macbeth’s fate, predicting that he will one day become king. Macbeth trusts the witch’s prophecies, and Lady Macbeth convinces him to become king and slaughter everyone who stands in his path. Macbeth may be destined for the throne, yet he chooses on his own to assassinate Duncan in order to claim the throne. His acts imply that while fate is predestined, people’s individual will dictate how they attain their goals. His collapse was brought about by fate’s involvement in the shape of the witches. Until he received the prophecy, Macbeth showed no desire to steal the throne. In fact, once the notion was implanted in his mind, it engulfed him. In principle, Macbeth is in charge of his own fate, but the Witches and his spouse force him to deal with situations.
Macbeth considered a tragic, heroic figure, and Beowulf, an epic protagonist, occupy center stage in two notable works of British literature. Despite the fact that they were both impacted by fate, Macbeth and Beowulf were in charge of their personal destinies and had the ability to change what occurred to them. Fate is substantially important in Macbeth since it is embodied by the Weird Women, who play a significant role in the play’s events. However, if predestination occurs, an individual must be in charge of determining fate. God fulfills this function in Beowulf, and fate is widely recognized as God’s judgment and will.
Conclusion
To summarize, Beowulf, the mythological Anglo-Saxon hero, displays a noble attitude toward fate, yet he embodies the conduct of a lone fighter in other aspects. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the ghosts disclose Macbeth’s fate, anticipating that he would one day become king in response to the issue of fate and destiny. His actions suggest that, while fate is predetermined, people’s free choice determines how they achieve their objectives. Although they were both influenced by fate, Macbeth and Beowulf had control over their lives and could modify what happened to them.
Work Cited
Beowulf. Translated by Lesslie Hall, Prabhat Prakashan, 2021.