Betrayal and Its Negative Outcomes in Macbeth

Betrayal and its Negative Outcomes in Macbeth

In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, betrayal has a very negative impact on the characters. There are three main cases of betrayal in Macbeth. When Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to kill King Duncan, she is unloyal to her feminine nature. Another example of treachery is when Macbeth kills Banquo, choosing individual success over friendship. The final example of betrayal is shown when Macduff abandons his family to go kill Macbeth. When betrayal is present in Macbeth, destructive outcomes are inevitable.

Lady Macbeth proves to be betraying her feminine nature when she persuades Macbeth into killing King Duncan. She displays treachery towards her femininity by saying “When you durst do it, then you were a man” (I, VI, 48-490). In this quotation Lady Macbeth is practically taunting Macbeth saying that until he kills King Duncan he is not a true man. This aids to prove Lady Macbeth is not feminine, due to the fact that in this time period, women were supposed to be quiet, respectful and do whatever their husbands desired. Meanwhile she is making all the decisions for Macbeth, becoming the “man” of the relationship. As a result of Lady Macbeth persuading Macbeth to kill King Duncan she becomes very guilty causing her to go insane and kill herself. Had she not betrayed her femininity and remained quiet, she could have avoided getting all the blood on her hands allowing King Duncan and herself to still be alive.

Further in the play Macbeth displays betrayal when he attempts to kill Banquo and Fleance he proves that he has chosen individual success over friendship. When Macbeth