Examples Of Betrayal In Macbeth

In William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, the blindness of Macbeth’s ambition as well as the contrasting theme of loyalty versus betrayal presents the idea that the means by which one seeks to achieve one’s goals determines the overall success that one has.

To begin, Macbeth’s determination to achieve his place as king demonstrates that one’s ambition can become consuming, and that it can blind one to that which is truly lies in one’s path. For instance, after being told by the three witches that he “shalt be the king hereafter” (1.3.50), Macbeth becomes obsessed with the prospect of becoming king, beginning to use any means necessary to achieve this position. Even after attaining this position by killing Duncan, he begins to see

enemies around every corner, as demonstrated when he states that he would “seize upon Fife; give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword / His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls / That trace him in his line” (4.1.51-53), after hearing the news that Macduff has fled to England.

Macbeth’s immediate conclusion that Macduff was part of a conspiracy due to his trip to England and his failure to appear at Macbeth’s banquet shows that Macbeth is becoming increasingly paranoid about the security of his position, despite having just heard from the witches that “none of woman born / Shall harm [him]” (4.1.80-81). Furthermore, the fact that he orders for the entirety of the Macduff’s castle to be slaughtered demonstrates that he sees everyone even remotely connected to Macduff as a potential threat, and that he is willing to do anything and defy all of his morals in order to remain the king of Scotland. In addition, his ambition has led him to often believe only that which he deems befitting of his goals. Despite Birnam Wood having come to Dunsinane, signifying the downfall of Macbeth’s rule, when he

faces Macduff in battle he falls back upon the idea that he “[bears] a charmѐd life, which must not yield / To one of woman born” (5.8.12-13). In the end, his ambition to retain his place as king has resulted in him becoming overconfident and thus, susceptible to defeat. Together, Macbeth’s blindness to his sorroundings as well as his final demise demonstrate that one’s ambition can cloud one’s view of reality, resulting in one being unable to achieve success in the end.
On the other hand, by demonstrating the loyalty to one’s cause that characters such as Macduff and Malcolm possess, Shakespeare demonstrates that in staying true to one’s beliefs one is able to attain the greatest level of success.

For instance, when Macduff confronts Malcolm about the tyrannical rule of Macbeth in Scotland and about Malcolm’s needed aid, Malcolm seeks to make sure that Macduff is not simply trying to trick him into going back to Scotland to face Macbeth’s wrath. He does so by first stating all of his faults and how Macbeth’s disgraces would pale in comparison to

his:
Nay, had I pow’r, I should
Pour the sweet milk of concord into hell,
Uproar the universal peace, confound
All unity on earth. (4.3.97-100)
To this Macduff responds that not only is Malcolm not fit to govern, but also that he should not even be allowed to live (4.3.103-104), and that “[t]hese evils thou repeat’st upon thyself / Hath banished me from Scotland. O my breast, / Thy hope ends here! (4.3.112-114). In the end, it is Macduff’s loyalty to his cause and his belief in reinstating that which is just that convinces Malcolm that Macduff is indeed on the side of those who wish to take down Macbeth’s tyrannical rule. Rather than lying and merely trying to get Malcolm on his side, Macduff demonstrates that the only way success will be achieved will be though reinstating a just ruler. In the end, it is their ability to remain loyal to a cause and to their beliefs that allows Malcolm and Macduff’s forces to defeat Macbeth. While Macbeth is ambitious for power, Macduff and Malcolm aim to bring back justice and peace to Scotland. In the end, Malcolm’s crowning as king, as well as the fact that his thanes became earls demonstrates that those who remain loyal and supportive of a cause and steadfast in their convictions will gain the most success, whereas those who believe in obtaining power by any means, breaking their morals to do so, will face defeat.
Lastly, in comparison with the righteousness of Macduff and Malcolm, the betrayal and deceit that Macbeth demonstrates throughout the play stands in sheer contrast in both the manner in which betrayal affects one’s mental state and the end result that it presents. Most noticeably, the mental repercussions of betrayal can clearly be seen in the case of the Macbeths. The first such instance occurs when Macbeth, preparing to kill Duncan, views a dagger in front of him, asking, “[i]s this a dagger which I see before me/ The handle toward my hand?” (2.1.33-34), and also, if it is “[a] dagger of the mind, a false creation, / Proceeding from the heat-oppressѐd brain” (2.1.38-39). Under the assumption that it is a creation of his mind due to his impending guilt, it is demonstrated that betraying those that one once served or supported can lead to one suffering from the weight of one’s guilt and the inability to fully face one’s actions. Such is also seen when Macbeth, upon just having Banquo murdered, sees Banquo’s ghost at his banquet, and also when Lady Macbeth is haunted by the murder of all those at Fife during her dreams. The uncontrollable nature of that which the Macbeths feel demonstrates the extent to which they have been affected. While Lady Macbeth initially had her heart and mind set on Macbeth becoming king, asking to be filled “from the crown to the toe, top-full / of direst cruelty!” (1.5.40-41), she too has been affected. No longer can she even face what and Macbeth and her actions have compounded into, rather, only her unconscious can deal with the atrocities that have been committed. Additionally, the effects of their betrayal towards Duncan, Banquo, and the trust of their people is demonstrates in the fact the Malcolm, with the aid of Siward, has gathered “ten thousand warlike men” (4.3.134), demonstrating that Macbeth has ultimately set his people against him. In the end, the defeat of Macbeth signifies that those who strive to achieve their goals through wrongful means, such as acts of betrayal, will not be successful in the end.