Betrayal

Question 1

Betrayal

Answer 1

• play built on how betrayal is punished - shakespeare’s intentions
• play is cyclical - starts and ends with this message with the death of a traitor (thane of cawdor)

Question 2

How is betrayal presented in the play?

Answer 2

• fuelled by ambition/hamartia
• macbeth betrays his own sense of right and wrong
• betrayal of duncan
• LM’s betrayal of her femininity/humanity/child
• through the regicide of duncan
• betrayal has made macbeth’s downfall inevitable
• betrayal causes madness
• betrayal of witches
• presented through macbeth’s downfall
• LM’s descent into madness leads to death

Question 3

scenes which display betrayal at the beginning of the play?

Answer 3

• Act I scene ii - thane of Cawdor’s execution
• Act I scene iv - M’s soliloquy - he betrays his own sense of right and wrong- D’s language contrast with M’s thoughts - betrayal is symbolised by the darkness and the supernatural + is caused by his hamartia
• Act I scene vii - LM betrays her femininity and child + her humanity

Question 4

scenes which display betrayal throughout the middle of the play?

Answer 4

• Act II scene ii - regicide and betrayal of Duncan causes guilt - start of M’s insanity
• Act III scene iii - betrayal of Banquo and his murder
• Act III scene iv - BETRAYAL HAS MADE M’S DOWNFALL INEVITABLE - ‘blood will have blood’ + banquet scene ruckus

Question 5

scenes which display betrayal at the end of the play?

Answer 5

• Act V scene i - effects of betrayal - LM sleepwalking and guilt-ridden + her descent into madness
• Act V scene v - LM’s death and M’s anagnorisis and moment of catharsis as he realises how much betrayal and ambition has taken from him and consumed him entirely
• Act V scene viii - Macbeth’s death