Would Macbeth have killed Duncan if the witches had not predicted he would become king or was it truly his fate with without witches?

The question of whether Macbeth would have killed Duncan without the witches' prophecies is a matter of debate. Some argue that the witches' prophecies were merely a catalyst, and that Macbeth's ambition and desire for power would have eventually led him to murder Duncan regardless. Others believe that the witches' prophecies played a crucial role in Macbeth's decision to kill Duncan, and that without them, he would not have committed the crime.

There is evidence to support both sides of the argument. On the one hand, Macbeth is clearly a highly ambitious man, and he is willing to go to great lengths to achieve his goals. He is also shown to be easily swayed by flattery, and the witches' prophecies may have simply given him the motivation he needed to act on his desires. On the other hand, Macbeth is also shown to be a man of conscience, and he is deeply troubled by the thought of killing Duncan. It is possible that he would not have been able to bring himself to commit the crime without the witches' prophecies convincing him that it was his destiny.

Ultimately, it is impossible to say definitively whether Macbeth would have killed Duncan without the witches' prophecies. There is evidence to support both sides of the argument, and it is ultimately a matter of interpretation for each individual reader or critic to decide.

Arguments that Macbeth would have killed Duncan regardless:

* Macbeth is clearly a highly ambitious man, and he is willing to go to great lengths to achieve his goals.

* He is also shown to be easily swayed by flattery, and the witches' prophecies may have simply given him the motivation he needed to act on his desires.

* Macbeth's soliloquies after meeting the witches show him struggling with his desire for power and his moral qualms about murdering Duncan.

* His wife, Lady Macbeth, also plays a role in convincing Macbeth to kill Duncan, adding weight to the idea he was already susceptible.

* The play's emphasis on fate and destiny suggests that Macbeth's actions are inevitable and beyond his control.

Arguments that Macbeth would not have killed Duncan without the witches' prophecies:

* Macbeth is shown to be a man of conscience, and he is deeply troubled by the thought of killing Duncan.

* He is hesitant to act on the witches' prophecies, and he only decides to kill Duncan after being pressured by Lady Macbeth.

* The witches' prophecies may have been self-fulfilling, as they plant the idea of murder in Macbeth's mind and give him the justification he needs to carry it out.

* Macbeth's actions after killing Duncan show him consumed by guilt and remorse.