Loyalty

Question 1

Loyalty

Answer 1

• recurrent theme
• cyclical - starts off with macbeth being rewarded for his loyalty - act i scene iv
• ends with malcolm rewarding thanes’ loyalty

Question 2

How is loyalty presented in the play?

Answer 2

• as betrayed to pursue selfish desires
• loyalty is rewarded
• as a dramatic device
• through duncan
• as corrupted by ambition
• as deceptive
• through macbeth and the witches
• through macbeth and lady macbeth
• through malcolm and macduff’s loyalty to scotland
• b’s loyalty to duncan
• siward’s loyalty to scotland

Question 3

scenes which display loyalty at the beginning of the play?

Answer 3

• act I scene ii - Macbeth being commended for his loyalty
• act 1 scene iii - Macbeth believes the witches and beginning of his loyalty - ‘two truths are told’ - LOYALTY CORRUPTED BY AMBITION
• act I scene iv - loyalty is used as a dramatic device - Macbeth walks in in the middle of Duncan’s speech about ‘absolute trust’
• act I scene iv - Macbeth’s loyalty is rewarded - pronounced Thane of Cawdor - strengthens Macbeth’s loyalty in the witches
• act I scene vii - LM loyalty to evil and manipulation - she would murder her own child for power

Question 4

scenes which display loyalty through the middle of the play?

Answer 4

• act II scene i - Banquo’s loyalty to Duncan - helps Macbeth only if his ‘allegiance clear’
• act IV scene iii - Macduff and Malcolm’s loyalty being tested and proved - Scotland - Macduff leaves his family to save Scotland from tyranny

Question 5

scenes which display loyalty at the end of the play?

Answer 5

• act V scene vi + vii - Macbeth’s loyalty to the Witches - believes them even in his last moments - COST HIM HIS FRIENDS AND HIS FAMILY
• act V scene ix - Siward’s loyalty to Scotland - doesn’t care if his son has died AS LONG AS he died in loyalty and bravery towards the betterment of Scotland