Prompt 3:

I do not believe that fate has played a role in my life. I don't believe that fate is a factor in life, except for the end result of life. In that regard, everyone has the same fate. It is said that death is the great equalizer, because everyone has the same status when they are deceased. However, Shakespeare would likely disagree with me about the role of fate in a person's life.
He likely believed that fate was an important factor in life, as shown through the witches' prophecies in Macbeth. He portrayed these prophecies as inescapable, and something that would happen no matter the actions of the characters. This is shown through the prophecy delivered to Banquo, where he is told that his son will be a king. Banquo does nothing to further the goal of this prophecy, and yet it still comes true. This is an example of Shakespeare's fatalistic worldview, where fate governs the lives of all people.
Another example of this is the central prophecy of the play, the one delivered to Macbeth. It is said that he will become the thane of Cawdor, and then the king of Scotland. The entire play revolves around the consequences of Macbeth's fulfillment of the prophecy, where he becomes incredibly paranoid and untrusting of his closest friends. Macbeth kills the current king in order to become the king of Scotland, driving the inheritor of the throne away from the country. This allows him to take control, and his worry about the prophecy delivered to Banquo drives him to kill. It is unclear whether Macbeth would have become king if he had not killed Duncan, but I think that Shakespeare believed that it would happen. The reason he kills Duncan is due to the incessant thirst for power present in his wife, who drives him to commit regicide.