Betrayal in Macbeth

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.