Betrayal in
Macbeth
A major theme in William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” is betrayal,
and that betrayal leads to betrayal. This is shown through the Thane of
Cawdor’s rebellion against King Duncan, Lady Macbeth persuading Macbeth to kill
Duncan, and Macbeth’s numerous murders.
The play starts with an act of betrayal from the Thane of
Cawdor. He had rebelled against Duncan, the King of Scotland, and was hung at
the beginning of the play. His title is then passed to Macbeth, Thane of
Glamis, who had been told of this before by the weird sisters, and that he
would later become King. The former Thane’s rebellion and betrayal of Duncan
sets the theme for the story.
After Macbeth receives news that he is now Thane of Cawdor,
true to the weird sister’s prophecy Lady Macbeth pushes her husband into
killing Duncan in his sleep. Macbeth does so, and kills Duncan’s servants in
order to keep them from revealing him. However, the blame silently falls on
Malcolm and Donalbain, Duncan’s sons, and they flee Scotland, Malcolm saying
that “there’s daggers in men’s smiles”, meaning that although they are the
heirs to the throne and seemingly trusted by their subjects, they would soon be
killed out of blame for their father’s death.
With Malcolm and Donalbain gone, the crown is given to Macbeth. He
orders his friend Banquo to be murdered, since he had been with Macbeth when he
was prophesized to be King and believed that Macbeth had done something wrong
in order to get the crown. As well as Banquo and his son Fleance, Macbeth orders Macduff’s family to be murdered.
This is betrayal in that, as King, they are all Macbeth’s subjects, and a king
should protect his followers.
I believe that Shakespeare was attempting to
convey that betrayal leads to betrayal and deceit leads to deceit. The Thane of
Cawdor’s rebellion and betrayal led to Macbeth’s murder of Duncan, and finally
to Macbeth’s order to kill those who speak against him.
