Loyalty and Betrayal

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Characters show loyalty through actions

There's a difference between characters who say that they are loyal and characters whose actions show their loyalty

The characters in Macbeth show loyalty to different things:

Country

Macduff is loyal to Scotland

He chooses to go to England to ask Malcolm to defend his country instead of protecting his family

He'd rather leave Scotland than see it be ruled by a bad king

King

Thanes are loyal to Duncan because he's been a "great" king

Macbeth gives Duncan "service and loyalty" by fighting for him in Act 1

Beliefs

Banquo is loyal to his own sense of honour - he says that he will keep his "allegiance clear"

He won't let ambition or the Witches' prophecies affect him

When characters betray their loyalty, it's usually to pursue their own selfish desires

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Loyalty is rewarded, betrayal is punished...

Duncan has the old Thane of Cawdor executed for betraying him and rewards Macbeth's loyalty by giving him the title

The play has a circular structure - it ends with Macbeth being killed for betraying Scotland and Malcolm rewarding the thanes' loyalty

Macbeth betrays his own sense of right and wrong

This eventually leads to his loss of self-worth and his death

Betrayal is often linked to power

Power can be given or taken away depending on a person's loyalty

Loyalty and betrayal often go hand in hand

For example, Macduff's loyalty to Scotland leads him to betray his family

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Macbeths pretend to be loyal

Macbeth is initially loyal to Duncan as "his kinsman and his subject" - makes it even more shocking when he puts his own desires ahead of his loyalty to the King

Lady Macbeth fakes an appearance of loyalty

She tells Duncan that she and Macbeth are "Your servants ever", even though they're plotting his murder

It shows how easily she can pretend to be loyal

Shakespeare juxtaposes Lady Macbeth's plotting to kill Duncan with her welcoming him into their castle

This develops her character and makes her murderous intentions more dramatic

Theme - Reality and Appearances

Lady Macbeth's two faced nature helps her to betray Duncan

He trusts her as a "Fair and noble hostess" and doesn't see her lust for power