Macbeth Betrayal Quotes

Bloody Watermarks

The act of betrayal is described as the violation of a contract, trust, or confidence that produces moral conflict amongst who is being betrayed. A popular example of this is riddled within the play Macbeth. Macbeth is a play that takes place around 11th-century Scotland. It entails a general named Macbeth and his friend Banquo who helps defeat an invading army. The play relies heavily on acts of betrayal to display the power struggle that Macbeth (the main character) is experiencing. There are a few people within the play that are specifically betrayed. The first of which is King Duncan, who is the King of Scotland. Then, there is Macduff who is fated to be the vanquisher of Macbeth. This is due to a prophecy that

This can be seen from Macduff’s quote, “Up, up, and see The great doom’s image! Malcom! Banquo! As from your graves rise up, and walk like sprites, to countenance this horror!” The play progresses and Macduff finds out that Macbeth was the one who killed his king. In Act 3, Scene 4 Macduff skips the banquet, and begins his plan to uproot Macbeth from the throne. Macduff flees to England to join an army that would later bring the downfall to Macbeth. However, Macduff may not have predicted the ruthless and vile individual that Macbeth had become. Macbeth decides to kill Macduff’s wife and children. Macbeth performs this act for two reasons, the first of which is to enact revenge towards Macduff, who has left to join an army who is against Macbeth’s regime. The second of which is to discourage anyone else who may want to desert him. He says in Act 4, Scene 1 that he will have the Macduff castle sized and his family killed to set an example for anyone, “That trace him in his line.” In a sense Macduff betrayed his own family by fleeing to seek help for Macbeth’s downfall. His family were the ones who were eventually punished for Macduff’s betrayal. Although, should his flight be considered an act of betrayal to his own family? A common theme within Macbeth is the contrast between fate and freewill. Macduff’s flight may appear to be an act of selfishness, protecting his own life rather than his families. Yet, Macduff vanquishes Macbeth and restores the crown to it’s natural order. Did Macduff have a choice to leave his family or was it fate that he was to dethrone