Macbeth and Paulina: Destinies Intertwined

Macbeth: Prophecies and Destiny

Macbeth presents the witches' prophecies as seemingly inevitable truths, yet they also function as catalysts for Macbeth's ambition. These prophecies manipulate Macbeth, ultimately placing his destiny in his own hands.

He believes in the prophecies but remains uncertain whether they will come to pass without his intervention. The witches never detail *how* he will become king. When Duncan names his son Malcolm as the heir to the throne, Macbeth makes a crucial decision that shapes his fate:

"All hail Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter!"

"The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step. On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap." - Macbeth expresses his jealousy at not being named heir.

"Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth."

Paulina: Freedom, Peace, and Revenge

Paulina's destiny, in contrast, is undetermined, driven by her desire for freedom and peace. She possesses agency, knowing she seeks peace, but her own mind, haunted by the past, prevents her from achieving it.

She clings to the past, hindering her desired peace. When she has Roberto Miranda tied to a chair and points a gun at him, she holds her destiny—the chance to kill her abuser. However, she is unsure if killing him will truly bring her peace.

Paulina's destiny is further complicated by the government's solution of amnesty, prioritizing the future over investigating past crimes. Gerardo, her husband, represents this commission and urges Paulina to forget her trauma. Her desire for revenge clashes with Gerardo's attempts to limit her control. This conflict continues until she empowers herself by taking control of the situation with a gun.

Paulina firmly believes Roberto is her abuser, despite the lack of concrete evidence. To achieve peace, she demands Roberto's confession, which would also validate her sanity in the eyes of others.

"I could not live in peace with myself and let you live."

Gerardo: "You’re still a prisoner; you stayed there behind with them, locked in that basement. For fifteen years, you’ve done nothing with your life. Not a thing. Look at you, just when we’ve got the chance to start all over again, and you begin to open all the wounds…"

Paulina: "It may be a teensy-weensy thing, but it’s enough for me. During all these years, not an hour has passed that I haven’t heard it, that same voice, next to me, next to my ear, that voice mixed with saliva, you think I’d forget a voice like his?"