Oh thanks . If you don’t mind can you give me feedback for this question. It’s on betrayal in Macbeth
In the tragedy “Macbeth”, Shakespeare portrays the destructive, anti-Christian nature of betrayal to deter treason within society, both from feminists and catholic nobles inspired by the gunpowder plot. The extract portrays Macbeth’s initial loyalty to demonstrate how even the most valiant of soldiers can betray the king.
Initially, Shakespeare portrays Macbeth as the epitome of the traditional, chivalrous jacobean warrior to portray the sinister nature of betrayal, as he is “his kinsman and his subject”. This explicitly demonstrates Macbeth’s expectation to be obedient to the king, due to his status both in authority and in the great chain of being. Moreover, the noun “subject” implies how allegiance to the king is equivalent to loyalty to god, further enhanced as Duncan can be viewed as God’s representative on Earth according to the great chain of being. Macbeth also refers to being Duncan’s “host”; the syntax of “host” at the end is significant as it stresses the importance of xenia, a Greek principle prioritising hospitality to guests, an act more punishable than murder if breaches. Shakespeare does this to portray the significance of regicide if carried out but also implies Macbeth’s betrayal of religion as he focuses on more pagan ideologies, indicating his hamartia due to defiance of Christianity.
Moreover, the extract depicts the severity of betrayal, regicide through the glorification of Duncan. Macbeth worries that “his virtues would plead like angels, trumpet tongued”. Through the simile to “angels” and the plurality of “virtues”, it connotes the innocent, infallible nature of Duncan, who is compared to heavenly bodies, direct servants and representatives of God. Perhaps Shakespeare does this to emphasise how betrayal would dramatically disrupt the heavens itself, due to its usurpation of the king’s position in the great chain of being. Moreover, the verb “plead” is notable as it creates an almost parallel to Adam, the perfect creation of God - just how the angels prostrate to Adam, they would similarly support Duncan and “cry hold! Hold!” The dental alliteration in “trumpet tongued” connotes a deterrent against regicide as a “trumpet” signals an alert, warning, perhaps connoting how regicide is an act of blasphemy, thus resulting in biblical warfare, similar to the Battle of Jericho, which commenced at the sound of horns, a parable known by the christocentric society present in 17th century England.
At the exposition of the play, a betrayal of nature is presented through the construct of Lady Macbeth to delineate the perils of female restraint in society. Lady Macbeth defies nature and commands the “murdering ministers” to “unsex [her] here” and fill her from “the crown to the toe top full of direst cruelty”. Immediately, it presents her association of masculinity to toxic attributes e.g. aggression as she assumes an authoritative position, an inversion of the archetypal jacobean women. More critically, we could imply her desperation to assume authority as a sense of urgency / haste is created - is her motive for personal revenge for her grandfather or something more intimate e.g. success for her husband? The employment of the symbolism “crown” shows her immediate superior facade, perhaps done by Shakespeare to portray the success of female empowerment without boundaries in society, a commentary on the successive nature of Elizabeth’s reign, one without a husband to control her. However, a contrary effect is created as “toe” has connotations of bottom and descent, implying how female empowerment will only result in downfall and chaos, maybe reflective of the disorder within society on the rightful heir to the English throne. Hence Shakespeare portrays this confusion to criticise both female transgression and betrayal while also denigrating societal boundaries which forces this betrayal.
At the denouement, it is clear that the consequences of betrayal are fatalistic, perhaps to demonstrate the importance of duty in Jacobean society. In act 5, Macbeth begins to doubt his ambition and authority as he declares “Out, out, brief Candle!” Firstly, the imperative “out” displays his desperation to reverse his betrayal as a parallel is created to Lady Macbeth in Act 5 scene 1 as she also struggles with guilt of regicide “Out damned spot!” Through this, we could imply their collective struggle to stay composed despite their separation as they become inversions of their previous characters : Lady Macbeth as a manipulative femme fatale and Macbeth as an effeminate coward. Moreover, the metaphor of “candle” indicates how like wax, his life is melting away through the endless chasing of his ambition / bloodlust - “walking shadow” - it is impalpable and would only result in disaster. This anagnorisis into the futile nature of his betrayal portrays how betrayal only results in the nihilistic, meaningless end to the protagonist as he becomes plagued with guilt. The betrayal of Duncan also presents a betrayal in religion as an antithesis is created to Lady Macbeth, who acknowledges eternal damnation “hell is murky” and seeks for reconciliation, while Macbeth completely disregards religion. As a result, Shakespeare portrays the theme of betrayal as both destructive in life and religion to deter against it in society, both with feminist uprisings against the patriarchy and treason committed by Catholic extremists like the gunpowder plotter.