betrayal Flashcards
(20 cards)
introduction:
In Shakespeare’s tragedy, betrayal drives the play’s tragic arc, exposing the devastating consequences of unchecked ambition. Shakespeare explores this on multiple levels: Macbeth’s treachery against Duncan, his abandonment of Lady Macbeth, and his eventual reckoning with his betrayal as it isolates him, fuels his paranoia, and leads to his tragic downfall.
3x key ideas:
- Macbeth betrayal (Duncan)
- Macbeth betray LM
- causes his downfall
topic sentence for paragraph 1 (M betrayal of Duncan):
Firstly, Shakespeare establishes Macbeth’s betrayal of Duncan as the pivotal act of treachery.
quotes to use for paragraph 1 (M betray Duncan)
“disdaining fortune…smoked with bloody execution”
“valiant, worthy gentleman”
analyse “disdaining fortune…smoked with bloody execution”
In Act 1, the first descriptions of Macbeth are of him fighting with “disdaining fortune…smoked with bloody execution”. The verb “smoked” connotes heat and hellish imagery, foreshadowing not only his malevolent nature, but also his eventual rejection of fate and moral duty. Whilst the phrase “disdaining fortune” illustrates Macbeth’s disregard for natural order, an ambition that escalates into treachery as he seizes power through regicide. Although he receives commendation for his loyalty to Duncan (“valiant, worthy gentleman”), the syntax implies a symbiotic relationship between his downfall and willingness to betray those above him. Furthermore, the positioning of “fortune” preceding “execution” foreshadows how Macbeth’s betrayal- enabled through violence- grants him illegitimate power and wealth, yet it also leads to his own eventual “execution”.
analyse the cyclical narrative part
By structuring the play as a cyclical narrative, starting and ending with a battle, Shakespeare reinforces the inevitability of betrayal in Macbeth’s world. Ironically, Macbeth is praised for defeating the previous Thane of Cawdor, who betrayed Duncan too. As a result, Macbeth inherits the title, unknowingly stepping into the role of a traitor himself. This mirroring suggests that treachery for power is inherent, normalised, and arguably expected from the start.
paragraph 1 analysis (M betray Duncan)
Firstly, Shakespeare establishes Macbeth’s betrayal of Duncan as the pivotal act of treachery. In Act 1, the first descriptions of Macbeth are of him fighting with “disdaining fortune…smoked with bloody execution”. The verb “smoked” connotes heat and hellish imagery, foreshadowing not only his malevolent nature, but also his eventual rejection of fate and moral duty. Whilst the phrase “disdaining fortune” illustrates Macbeth’s disregard for natural order, an ambition that escalates into treachery as he seizes power through regicide. Although he receives commendation for his loyalty to Duncan (“valiant, worthy gentleman”), the syntax implies a symbiotic relationship between his downfall and willingness to betray those above him. Furthermore, the positioning of “fortune” preceding “execution” foreshadows how Macbeth’s betrayal- enabled through violence- grants him illegitimate power and wealth, yet it also leads to his own eventual “execution”. By structuring the play as a cyclical narrative, starting and ending with a battle, Shakespeare reinforces the inevitability of betrayal in Macbeth’s world. Ironically, Macbeth is praised for defending the previous Thane of Cawdor, who betrayed Duncan too. As a result, Macbeth inherits the title, unknowingly stepping into the role of a traitor himself. This mirroring suggests that treachery for power is inherent and normalised from the start.
topic sentence for paragraph 2 (M betray LM)
Ironically, Macbeth’s ambition also leads him to betray Lady Macbeth- the very person who urged him to seize power.
quotes to use for paragraph 2 (M betray LM)
“milk of human kindness”
“be innocent of the knowledge dearest chuck”
“out damned spot out i say”
“the queen my lord is dead”
“she should have died hereafter”
analyse “milk of human kindness”
Initially, she dominates their relationship, manipulating him with the “milk of human kindness”, symbolising her intent to strip Macbeth of compassion, replacing it with ruthless ambition. She isn’t just replacing this ‘milk’ with evil, but reshaping his entire morality in order to follow through with their betrayal.
analyse “be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck”
However, as Macbeth grows more ruthless he dismisses her concerns: “be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck”. This marks the moment where he no longer needs her influence- he has surpassed her ruthlessness.
analyse “out damned spot out i say”
Even when she descends into a state of somnambulism and hallucinogenic madness exclaiming ‘out, damned spot! Out I say!’, which directly juxtaposes her litotes in Act 1 (‘a little water clears us of this deed’), Macbeth shows little care. This exposes Lady Macbeth’s psychological torment, showing how regicide and power have shattered her, while Macbeth remains disturbingly unaffected.
analyse “the queen my lord is dead”
This is emphasised by the indirect revelation of her suicide: “the queen, my lord, is dead”. The detached phrasing suggests that it was expected and also not surprising- emphasising that she could not cope with their power having usurped the natural order. Meanwhile, Macbeth’s cold and emotionless response to this (“she should have died hereafter”) shows no concern, highlighting that once he has embraced betrayal, he is desensitised and indifferent to loss- even to his closest bond.
paragraph 2 analysis (M betray LM)
Ironically, Macbeth’s ambition also leads him to betray Lady Macbeth- the very person who urged him to seize power. Initially, she dominates their relationship, manipulating him with the “milk of human kindness”, symbolising her intent to strip Macbeth of compassion, replacing it with ruthless ambition. She isn’t just replacing this ‘milk’ with evil, but reshaping his entire morality in order to follow through with their betrayal. However, as Macbeth grows more ruthless he dismisses her concerns: “be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck”. This marks the moment where he no longer needs her influence- he has surpassed her ruthlessness. Even when she descends into a state of somnambulism and hallucinogenic madness exclaiming ‘out, damned spot! Out I say!’, which directly juxtaposes her litotes in Act 1 (‘a little water clears us of this deed’), Macbeth shows little care. This exposes Lady Macbeth’s psychological torment, showing how regicide and power have shattered her, while Macbeth remains disturbingly unaffected. This is emphasised by the indirect revelation of her suicide: “the queen, my lord, is dead”. The detached phrasing suggests that it was expected and also not surprising- emphasising that she could not cope with their power having usurped the natural order. Meanwhile, Macbeth’s cold and emotionless response to this (“she should have died hereafter”) shows no concern, highlighting that once he has embraced betrayal, he is desensitised and indifferent to loss- even to his closest bond.
topic sentence for paragraph 3 (causes M downfall):
Alternatively, Shakespeare reveals how betrayal inevitably causes Macbeth’s fatal demise.
quotes to use for paragraph 3 (causes M downfall):
“stepped in so far” “wade” “blood”
“tomorrow” “petty pace”
“a tale told by an idiot…signifying nothing”
analyse “stepped in so far”
He acknowledges that he has “stepped in so far” that he is at the point of no return. Previously, the motif of “blood” (the consequence of murder) was merely on his hands, yet now it has enrobed his entire body, and by extension his entire sense of being. The fact that he used the metaphor of “wading” in this “blood” exemplifies how he acknowledges his conscience is permanently stained with guilt as a result of his original betrayal, and there is nothing he can do to change that. The verb “wade” implies imagery of struggling through deep waters, further suggesting that this guilt from his illegitimate power has engulfed him entirely.
analyse “tomorrow”
Later in Act 5, he has achieved everything he wanted, yet his ambition for power has left him empty; life now feels meaningless. The repetition of “tomorrow” creates a tone of despair, highlighting how his disloyalty has given him nothing but suffering at a “petty pace”. This could be considered his peripeteia (where he realises that his ambition for power has ultimately led to his downfall), and that life is futile: “a tale told by an idiot… signifying nothing”.
paragraph 3 analysis (causes M downfall):
Alternatively, Shakespeare reveals how betrayal inevitably causes Macbeth’s fatal demise. He acknowledges that he has “stepped in so far” that he is at the point of no return. Previously, the motif of “blood” (the consequence of murder) was merely on his hands, yet now it has enrobed his entire body, and by extension his entire sense of being. The fact that he used the metaphor of “wading” in this “blood” exemplifies how he acknowledges his conscience is permanently stained with guilt as a result of his original betrayal, and there is nothing he can do to change that. The verb “wade” implies imagery of struggling through deep waters, further suggesting that this guilt from his illegitimate power has engulfed him entirely. Later in Act 5, he has achieved everything he wanted, yet his ambition for power has left him empty; life now feels meaningless. The repetition of “tomorrow” creates a tone of despair, highlighting how his disloyalty has given him nothing but suffering at a “petty pace”. This could be considered his peripeteia (where he realises that his ambition for power has ultimately led to his downfall), and that life is futile: “a tale told by an idiot… signifying nothing”.
conclusion:
Therefore, Shakespeare presents betrayal as a destructive force- once Macbeth forsakes loyalty, he is trapped in a cycle of treachery. Through this tragic arc, perhaps Shakespeare warns that betrayal offers no security- those who reject loyalty for power ultimately suffer both moral and psychological destruction.
