Preview

How Important Is The Theme Of Betrayal In Macbeth

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
563 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Important Is The Theme Of Betrayal In Macbeth
Jessica Bennet English
How significant is the theme of betrayal in the play Macbeth?

Betrayal is a big part in the play, Macbeth betrays his king and leader when he kills him, King Duncan trusted Macbeth with his life, obviously shouldn’t have! King Duncan was innocent but Lady Macbeth and Macbeth desperately wanted Macbeth to become king. I don’t think Macbeth wanted to kill Duncan but he sort of had to for his wife was sure he was going to make a perfect king, much better than Duncan. The betrayal is a big part in the scene of Duncans murder when Lady Macbeth drunkens the guards framing them so it will look like they murdered him and when they sneak into King Duncans bed chamber without him knowing and killing him.
Lady Macbeth is a big part of betrayal; she is sort of betraying Macbeth making him …show more content…
These betrayals are right in the eyes of Macbeth because he is doing what he thinks he should do to keep his power and not to be found out of all the stuff he has done. Banquo, the same as King Duncan, trusted Macbeth he would never have thought that it was all because of Macbeth that he was killed. When Macbeth sees Banquos ghost at the dinner party I think this is a sign that Macbeth really didn’t want to do the deed. Lady Macbeth didn’t know anything about the murder of Banquo which is surprising as I think she is one of the main characters with betrayal inside her. Although Banquo was there when he was talking to the 3 witches I don’t think Banquo would have been a threat to Macbeth, Banquo was a friend and trusted Macbeth. Macbeth didn’t need to kill him but it shows that he has the power to get murderers to do it for him. Macbeth tried to kill Banqous son, Fleance, but he managed to get away as Banquo made him so he wouldn’t get killed and so that he wouldn’t have to see his father being killed by the
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    The Betrayal and Loyalty in Macbeth and Kite Runner
    • 2948 Words
    • 12 Pages

    The Betrayal and Loyalty in Macbeth and Kite Runner

    “A boy who won’t stand up for himself becomes a man who can’t stand up to anything.”…

    • 2948 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Macbeth's Greed Research Paper
    • 914 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Macbeth's Greed Research Paper

    To illustrate, Macbeth kills the guards to try to maintain his appearence of innocence. After just killing Duncan in his sleep, Macbeth and his wife are anxious and paranoid. Macbeth wants to eradicate anyone that may know the truth about Duncan’s mysterious death; killing the guards was necessary to ensure Macbeth’s own security. However, Lady Macbeth had already framed the guards by placing the bloody knife by them. As a result, Macbeth’s action is not just act of protection, but an act of apparent loyalty in order to keep the crown. Next, Macbeth plots the murder of his friend Banquo. Banquo starts getting suspicious of Duncan’s death because it happened so incredibly close to when the witches told Macbeth he would be king. He starts to perceive that maybe Macbeth killed Duncan to get his position. Macbeth worries that Banquo would be suspicious because he is the only other person that knows of the prophecy. In addition to that, the witches also said Banquo’s children will be kings, making Macbeth doubt the safety of his reign. Macbeth is so eager to ensure his long rule that he order’s murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance. Now that he has the crown, he will never let it escape him. Furthermore, he also kills Banquo to maintain his kingship. After getting word of Macduff’s flee to England, Macbeth believes that he is a traitor. In order to…

    • 914 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Examples Of Banquo In Macbeth
    • 227 Words
    • 1 Page

    Examples Of Banquo In Macbeth

    Banquo was deeply loyal to Duncan so when he heard news about Duncan's death he was deeply saddened. When Duncan was killed by Macbeth, Banquo was pretty suspicious how Duncan’s murder would help Macbeth rise in power. Banquo clearly doesn't feel obligated to showing loyalty to Macbeth. “In the great name of God I stand, and thence against the undivulged pretense I fight of treasonous” (Macbeth 2.3.152-154). Malice and Macbeth doesn't remain loyal since he murdered Duncan,…

    • 227 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Ambitions & Desires - Macbeth
    • 615 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Ambitions & Desires - Macbeth

    Macbeth, after hearing the prophecies the three witches gave him, becomes conflicted within himself, ‘If chance shall have me King, why, chance may crown me, without my stir’. Ultimately, Macbeth chooses ambition over morality, but not without pressure from his wife ‘Are you a man?’ and severe inner turmoil ‘My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical’. To contrast the devious character of Macbeth, Shakespeare included Banquo, a fellow noblemen and Macbeth’s closest friend, to act as Macbeths foil. He immediately chooses morality over ambition without question and forewarns Macbeth of the Weird Sisters and their ability to twist the truth: ‘instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray’s in deepest consequence’. Banquo’s undying allegiance to King Duncan demonstrations the difference between Macbeth and Banquo, and how the upkeep of morals keep us in check. After choosing power, Macbeth’s suspicion of Banquo and his role in the prophecy leads to Banquo’s murder. After killing his friend, Macbeth is plagued with guilt, and hallucinations become recurrent for both Macbeth; ‘our graves must send those we bury back’ and his wife; ‘will these hands ne’er be clean?’ This shows that ambition can lead to immoral acts when overcome by desire.…

    • 615 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth's Responsibility Essay Example
    • 1199 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Macbeth's Responsibility Essay Example

    Macbeth's treason in murdering Duncan is blatantly an erroneous choice. Macbeth initially rationalises his choices, reasoning that "If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me / Without my stir" [1:III:142-143], and that it would be unseemly to assassinate Duncan "First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, / Strong both against the deed; then as his host, / Who should against his murderer shut the door." [1:VII: 13-15]. He also realises that "He (Duncan) hath honour'd me of late" [1:VII: 32], generosity which defies his morale conscience in killing Duncan. All rationales for not murdering Duncan are sound; yet Macbeth eventually opts to kill Duncan in order to satisfy his "…black and deep desire" [1:V:51] of gaining kingship. Macbeth had many opportunities to choose another path, but he abided by the dagger which "…marshall'st me the way I was going" [2:I:42], a representation and foreshadowing of the violent and bloody path he would later ‘build' his kingdom on. Although Macbeth recognises "the consequence" [1:VII: 3] which would follow after murdering Duncan, he ignores such risks. Later in the play, it is the cumulative effect of such recklessness and consequences which leads to his downfall. After the murder, Macbeth believes that that "…all great Neptune's ocean (will not) wash this blood / Clean from my hand" [2:II:63-64], indicative of a…

    • 1199 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Leah
    • 880 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Leah

    Macbeth had done a lot to become king. He murdered his cousin, King Duncan and anyone else who he thought would reveal the truth that he was true murderer. He also went against his ethics. Two of the people Macbeth ordered to be murdered were his honorable friend Banqou, and Banquo’s son Fleance. Macbeth murdered Banquo for two reasons. The first reason was his fear of Banquo’s nobleness. In Macbeth’s soliloquy he states, “There’s something noble about him (Banquo) that makes me fear him. He’s willing to take risks, and his mind never stops working. He has the wisdom to act bravely but also safely. I’m not afraid of anyone but him…” Macbeth is worried that Banquo will reveal that Macbeth killed King Duncan since Banquo suspected Macbeth. Another reason was because Banqou was told by three evil witches that, “Thou shalt get kings, thought thou be none” so Macbeth figured that he should have Banqou murdered to stop Banquo…

    • 880 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Examples Of Betrayal In Macbeth
    • 419 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Examples Of Betrayal In Macbeth

    Betraying and non trusting people have been around since the dawn of time. Have you ever told on your best friend that trusted you? In Macbeth and in now times it's still the same. Macbeth killed King Duncan and in real life your closest friends snitch on you, and try to get you locked up. The reasons why people betrayal other people is for personal gain and to be a snake.…

    • 419 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth's Ambition Analysis
    • 661 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Macbeth's Ambition Analysis

    “Or heaven’s cherubin horsed Upon the sightless couriers of the air, shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself And falls on th’ other” (Shakespeare 20). To have committed treason, one must have put their country at risk by planning on killing the sovereign for their own benefit. Macbeth knew that killing King Duncan would be for his own ambition. Although Lady Macbeth was the one who planned the killing, Macbeth committed the action. Knowing what he was doing was going to have a great effect on the people of Scotland, he still went ahead and killed the king, blaming it on the knights. Macbeth’s wife, the witches, and his ambition for the throne influenced him to commit treason, all to be a step closer to the…

    • 661 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Theme Of Deception In Macbeth
    • 593 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Theme Of Deception In Macbeth

    In the play Macbeth, Shakespeare portrays Macbeth as a very heroic character who doesn’t seem to be afraid of anything. He is described as a warrior who stabbed a man in the stomach, cut him from there to the throat, and cut his head off and stuck it on a post. The type of man that would do something like this definitely does not seem like the type of man who would be nervous to become king. Even if the only way he was going to become king was by murdering the man who is currently king, and in this specific case it would be King Duncan of Scotland. Personally, I believe that Macbeth’s imagination both prompts him to commit and crime and also makes it hard for him to commit the crime because he over thinks things, he listens to his wife too much, and he desires power too much.…

    • 593 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth's Character Analysis
    • 835 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Macbeth's Character Analysis

    Macbeth’s new position as king, gives him the power to delegate his needs to other people which he uses to hire murderers to slaughter Banquo. This proves that Banquo’s life means nothing to him anymore now that Banquo’s knows about Macbeth’s involvement in Duncan’s death. Banquo’s statement of “thou hast it now-king, Cawdor, Glamis, as the Weïrd women promised, and I fear thou played’st most foully for ‘t” shows Banquo’s realization of Macbeth’s involvement in Duncan’s murder but by the time he does it is too late for salvation. This worries Macbeth because his lies are catching up to him and they threaten to take his crown. The thought of killing Banquo once a never come to plight now seems as the only solution to an ever growing problem. Banquo’s ending set forth Macbeth’s notion of the crown leading to happiness. This murderous action, even though not directly taken by Macbeth, even more so painted Macbeth in a murderous light that will follow him on his path to…

    • 835 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth's Ruthless Quotes
    • 717 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Macbeth's Ruthless Quotes

    Macbeth is paranoid of losing his position, he wants to keep it to himself as well as to his descendants. As the three witches described Banquo: “Lesser than Macbeth and greater, not so happy yet much happier, thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.”, implying that Banquo is the root of many kings, Banquo and his son is a threat to Macbeth’s crown(1.3.68-70). Macbeth plans an assassination of Banquo and Fleance while they are on a ride before the dinner at Macbeth’s castle(3.1.129-144). Banquo is murdered and Fleance flees(3.3.29-30). Banquo’s ghost shows up at the dinner and scares Macbeth. Even though Macbeth doesn’t regret killing Banquo, he is still conscious of his terrible actions and the guilt of bringing Banquo to the end of his life. Macbeth at this point has become ruthless enough to murder his close…

    • 717 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Does Macbeth's Desire To Have Power
    • 988 Words
    • 4 Pages

    How Does Macbeth's Desire To Have Power

    Banquo is killed strictly for the reason that he has a suspicion that Macbeth killed Duncan. He could get Macbeth into trouble and ruin his future. The witches’ prophecies describe how Banquo will be a father to a future line of kings. Macbeth hearing this, believes it is a threat at him and uses his urge for power to set out for the killing of Fleance. Macbeth says, “To leave no rubs nor botches in the work—Fleance, his son, that keeps him company, Whose absence is no less material to me Than is his father’s” (Shakespeare). This quote is describing how Fleance’s life is just as equal as Banquo’s. He believes in killing Fleance because he is a threat to him. Macbeth wants no chances for another person to come into power. Therefore, Macbeth wants to be safe and chooses to kill more people. The ambition Macbeth has becomes clear during this chain of events because he is paranoid at losing the power he urgently wants. Cassandra Nelson says, “Once he hears the weird sisters' prophecy Macbeth becomes so consumed by his desire for power that he becomes a tyrannical and violent monster who ultimately destroys himself” (Nelson). She is referencing Macbeth listening to the prophecies given to him. As soon as he hears what the witches have to say, he acts immediately in any way possible to keep his power. Nelson is also hints to the fact that ambition is Macbeth’s tragic flaw and leads to his demise. Macbeth is so power hungry that he is willing to do anything possible to stay on the throne. Ambition is shown when he kills Banquo and attempts to kill Fleance because they threaten his…

    • 988 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Betrayal In Macbeth
    • 1347 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Betrayal In Macbeth

    “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it” George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905. The Tragedy of Macbeth, tells a story of a common occurrence in politics, a rise and fall of a once powerful leader. The Tragedy of Macbeth is a tragedy in which the main protagonist's flaws leads to their own collapse, which is seen time and time again modernly. Written by William Shakespeare, it tells more than just a tale, he tries to depict the political struggle throughout the Elizabethan and Jacobean era. Shakespeare's illustrates a kingsman named Macbeth will succumbing to absolute power and the lengths he will take to retain it, including the strong theme of betrayal. This situation, as told by George Santayana, can be related to many…

    • 1347 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth Is a Helpless Victim of Supernatural and Evil Forces, Hence Hid Downfall and Destrution.
    • 737 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Macbeth Is a Helpless Victim of Supernatural and Evil Forces, Hence Hid Downfall and Destrution.

    Macbeth was a noble and loyal man, who would never harm his King. If it wasn't for the influences of the witches and his wife, Lady Macbeth, he would have lived happily as Thane of Cawdor, an honorable title in itself. The downfall of Macbeth was ignited by the actions by those around him, mainly, and eventually, his ambitions took over. Macbeth never had the intention of killing his king, but was ultimately persuaded that it was the correct thing to do. With his wife’s cajoling, and the three witches’ foretelling of his future Macbeth, will stop at nothing to gain position as King of Scotland.…

    • 737 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Macbeth Argumentative Essay
    • 1428 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Macbeth Argumentative Essay

    A little after Macbeth kills the king, his friend Banquo starts to suspect this about him. He was also there when Macbeth heard about his future and is connecting the dots. Once Macbeth realizes this, he has Banquo killed as soon as possible. Macbeth says, “Banquo, thy soul's flight, If it finds heaven, must find it out to-night.”(III.i.160-163). He is now taking the initiative to remove Banquo from his life, and to relief, the suspicious put upon him. This one was all on Macbeth. He had no influence except his own, and killing Banquo was his own…

    • 1428 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More

Related Topics