In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the
supernatural, the weird sisters, give Macbeth mixed messages in their predictions of Act
4.1. Thus, the responsibility for Macduff's family's murder lies with Macbeth, much
more than it lies with the supernatural.
While the witches
do tell Macbeth to beware of Macduff, they also tell him that he cannot be harmed by
anyone born of woman, and that he cannot be defeated until Birnam Wood comes marching
toward his castle. Macbeth makes his choice to emphasize one prediction or warning over
the others.
Thus, Macbeth is responsible for his own
decision to order the slaughter of Macduff's family. If the witches only tell him to
beware of Macduff, period, then you might be able to argue that the supernatural trick
Macbeth into taking action against Macduff. But they, in fact, tell him to figuratively
laugh at anyone who would fight against him. They tell him not to worry.
Yet, he still goes ahead and orders the slaughter. He
can't get to Macduff, so he gets to his family instead. The slaughter serves no
political purpose, and no motivation for it is given in the play, except that Macbeth
acts impetuously and immaturely and orders it.
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