It is interesting to think about how characters are or are not responsible for the ills of their fictional world.
Central to Spider-Man’s character is the guilt he feels over the death of his beloved Uncle Ben. After Peter Parker had gained his powers that allow him to become a super hero but before he accepted to corresponding responsibilities, he sought enrichment and glory by using those magical abilities in entertainment. And when he stood by refusing to become involved in a robbery allowing the culprit to escape, he set into motion a chain of events that resulted in the same culprit robbing, shooting, and murdering Peter’s Uncle’s Ben. In the second motion picture directed by Sam Rami Peter confesses to his aunt that he, Peter, is responsible for Ben murder and that is something that has always rankled me.
Yes, Peter should have done something. Yes, Peter’s inaction set up the conditions that allowed the criminal to escape and thus the conditions that eventually allowed the criminal to be in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong motivations that resulted in Ben murder.
However, Peter is not responsible for that murder. Peter did not pull that trigger; Peter did not make the decision to shoot. Only the gunman is responsible for shooting. My feelings on the matter have always been settled ground to me.
Yet, things feel different when I contemplate my favorite play Macbeth.
It is Macbeth’s hand to wields the dagger, it is Macbeth’s choice to murder his King and Kin, it is Macbeth uses the throne of Scotland to ignite a reign of terror that sparks open rebellion and invasion and still I can’t shake the sensation that responsibility somehow lies with the unnamed witches.
Without the supernatural meddling by the witches, making pronouncement of the future that are accurate of ultimately misleading, would have Macbeth ever taken any action against his royal cousin? If the witches can know which grain will grow and which will not then must they also know that speaking that future to Macbeth that place him on the path that ultimately leads to his doom? Are they the inversion of Avengers: Endgame knowing that if they speak the future to Macbeth that unlike Strange certain that his prediction will destroy its possibilities their will ensure it? If that is the case how do you divide responsibility between the Witches and their future meddling and Macbeth free will to choice his destructive path?
