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Macbeth
by William Shakespeare


William Shakespeare is known as play writer in the late 16
th
and early 17
th
centuries and
is considered to be the English National poet, maybe one of the greatest playwriters of all time.
Shakespeare excelled at writing tragedies that not only thrilled but also shocked the audience of
his time. Among his masterpieces Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, King Lear or A Midsummer Night`s
Dream, Macbeth is considered Shakespeare`s shortest and arguably strangest work.
Macbeth is a classical tragedy written in 1606 and remains one of his most popular plays
as it is pleasurable not only for theatre audience but also for classroom study.
Macbeth is the story of a very violent and ambitious man as he desires to be the king of
Scotland by any means. His wish comes true with the help of his more ambitiouse wife, Lady
Macbeth, who advices her husband to betray his good king Duncan by killing him. But
Macbeth`s life became more difficult than ever, after killing king Duncan, as he has to contend to
Malcom, the vengeful son of Duncan and his friend Macduff and even to his own conscience.

I The discourse of betrayal
I.1. Argument
I have choosen to speak about betrayal as it may be considered an important aspect in the
play, because that is how the changes in power occur.
I.2. Definition of the concept
Betrayal means an act of betraying someone or something. If you betray your
country, or if you betray someone who needs your support, you deliberately do something that
harms or help their opponents.
I.3. A thematic approach
In Macbeth, there were many acts of betrayal even from the begining of the play when in
Act I, scene 2, Duncan finds out from Ross that he has been betrayed by one of his thanes.
Hearing this, Duncan tells Ross to give the title Thane of Cawdor to Macbeath instead, saying
that What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won. Using the epithet noble, the author wants
to emphasize the trust Duncan has in Macbeth, so Macbeth`s proximate betrayal seem even more
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horrible. The opposition of the two words lost and won emphasize on the fact that Macbeth
could be great and have power without being necessary to betray. We also can say that this
opposition foreseethe situation of Macbeth after killing Duncan for getting in his place: just like
Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth loses everything, even his life.
Betrayal is also mentioned in Act I, scene 3, in the words of Banquo after receiving
witches` prophecy And oftentimes to win us our harm/ The instruments of darkness tell us
truths;/Win us with honest triffles, to betray`s/ In deepest consequence. These words mean that
evil only tells part of the truth so as to lead people to harm. Using the verbal irony, Shakespeare
names the witches instruments of darkness so as to portray in a metaphoric way the evil that
affects the whole action in the play. We dicover here too, another opposition dark vs. truth that
foreshadows the fact that when it comes from the instruments of darkness truth has a dark
side in it. In this case, witches` truth leads to betrayal. In addition, we can say that nothing
ever is what it seems and as Banquo observes, even truth can betray us.
Betrayal is not only in Macbeth`s mind. It also seeds in Lady Macbeth`s heart after
reading the letter in which Macbeth tells the three witches told him one day he will be king.
Hearing that Duncan will come to their castle that night she tells Macbeth that the king ...never/
Shall sun that morrow see! She continues advicing Macbeth Your face, my thane, is as a
bookwhere men/ May read strange matters:- to beguile the time, /Look like the time; bear
welcome in you eye,/ Your hand, your tongue:look like the innocent flower, /But be the serpent
under`t. The comparison Your face [...] is as a book reveals the ideea of being as you
must be according to the situation. So Macbeth should look as the most grateful person in front
of his king so he never have any idea of their real intention. The comparison like the time
Macbeth should be deceiver as the time is so as no one think that under his honest face may
could stay something bad. There are also other words of Macbeth which reveal his betraying
intentions. In scene 7 of the first act, Macbeth is convinced that False face must hide what the
false heart doth know. The repetition of the word false isn`t used accidentally, because it is
known that when it`s about betrayal one must be first of all false. In this case, Macbeth is
convinced that if he wants to mock the time he must reveal the fairest show. This epithet
shows that Macbeth became a master of betrayal and from that moment nothing could stop him.
Macbeth isn`t the only one who betrays in this play. Lady Macbeth betrays her feminine
nature when asking the evil spirits to unsex her and fill her from the crown to the toe top-top
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full of the direst cruelty The epithet direst cruelty reveals the strand a person needs to have
so as to be able to betray.
The acts of betrayal go further in the play in act IV ,with the murder of Macduff`s family
by Macbeth`s order ...give to the edge o`the sword/ His wife, his babes , and all unfortunate
souls. The enumaration of all this people is used in order to emphasize on Macbeth`s cruelty
which became more obviouse as it`s downfall was very close.
In the end, in act V, Lady Macbeth unwittingly betrays not only herself but her husband
too in her sleep before she die, as she was hunted by her remorses. Her words also represented
Macbeth`s doom, and at the end of the play Macduff made justice in the name of all who
suffered because of Macbeth`s obsession with power.
Betrayal in this play is seen in opposition with loyalty. Loyalty is the word that best
represents Banquo. He was always loyal to Macbeth, until he died also from Mac beth`s order.
To show his loyalty to Macbeth, Banquo uses always my lord, my good lord, even if they
were friends and Banquo knows that Macbeth became his lord by dark means.
I.4. Conclusion
In conclusion, betrayal can be considered a universal theme because it is met in many
great writings in all its forms and aspects from all over the world. Still, after reading Macbeth I
realised that betrayal never can bring something good no matter someone would struggle and
when it`s discovered, its consequences are devastating for the traitor.

II The discourse of evil
II. 1. Argument
I have decided to speak about evil, because after reading Macbeth I realised that evil
stands in front of all the horrible things that happened from the very begining and till the end of
the play.
II. 2. Definition of the concept
Evil is the power that makes people do very bad and cruel things and it is connected
with the Devil and forces that make bad things happen: evil spirits.



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II. 3. A thematic approach
Fundamentally, there are two types of evil in Macbeth: the evil which we see, the violent
acts, the violent imagery, the evil beings and then there is a sense of evil within the characters
themselves.
In Macbeth, evil apperas from the begining of the act I as it starts with the appearence of
the three witches who plan to meet Macbeth, a brave general of King Duncan, the King of
Scotland. Upon the heat/ [...]/ There to meet with Macbeth what it is strange in their intention
is the fact that they intend to meet with Macbeth ere the set of sun. The moment the three
witches decided to meet Macbeth is one that fits best with their evil nature.
The three witches have the role of revealing the evil nature that exists inside humans.
That`s what happens to Macbeth. After hearing the witches` prophecy the evil part of his mind
begins to reveal and he turns completely evil after his wife supported him.
Still, we cannot say that evil is normal in human nature as we see that Lady Macbeth begs
the evil spirits to tear all human feelings from her in act I scene V ...spirits/ That tend on
mortal thoughts/[...]/ Stop up th`accessand passage to remorse/ That no compunctious visitings
of nature/Shake my fell purpose. In her words we see fear of not being evil enough to do bad
things that will bring them the throne of the country. The epithet mortal thoughts refers to an
extreme evil Lady Macbeth hopes to embrace so she can help her husband to obtain the throne.
But Lady Macbeth knows that neither her husband is yet prepared to commit horrible
things for getting the desired power. So she must determine Macbeth to ignore his own
conscience Yet do I fear thy nature;/ It is too full o`th`milk of human kindness/ To catch the
neares way.(ct I, scene V). Shakespeare hyperbolizes the goodness of Macbeth as being too
full o`th`milk of human kindness through the eyes of Lady Macbeth who thinks that her
husband`s good nature is over all limits. But with her willing to risk anything to help him get the
crown, she has been very successfull of emptying her husband of all human feelings.
Macbeth represents the perfect embodiment of the desintegration of the individual under
evil`s influence. Once he is overpowered by evil as his wife desired in the begining, he
commited horrible crimes which gradually destroyed any human feeling and made of him cut off
from humanity who begs fate to come And champion me to the utterance. (act III, scene 1)
Evil is everywhere in this play: outside, on the battlefield, in Macbeth`s castle at
Inverness which represents nothing but Duncan`s cell, and inside the characters.
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Evil also takes place over night because night is its favourable moment. Signs that
predict evil`s existence are the scream of the owl, or the cricket`s cry I heard the owl scream
and the crickets cry (act II, scene 1).
After killing Duncan, Macbeth realises he isn`t dignified to utter the word
Amenanymore, as it is a saint word which evil denies. So Macbeth becomes conscient of his
evil acts that have nothing to do with God. Now, he embraced evil and seeks it without fear or
remorses so as to shape it in its most frightening forms till it strikes heaven on the face (act
IV, scene 6). The personification of heaven shows how powerfull Macbeth thinks he is as even
heaven should tremble in front of him. Still, nothing is forever, and Macbeth`s glory approach to
the end and there is nothing left for him but the despair of his speech: Tomorrow, and
tomorrow, and tomorrow/ /Creeps in this petty pace from day to day/ To the last syllable of
recorded time/ And all your yesterdays have lighted fools/ The way to dusty deathOut, out brief
candle! Lifes but a walking shadow; a poor player, /That struts and frets his hour upon the
stage. /And then is heard no more: it is a tale /Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, /Signifying
nothing.(act V, scene 5).
Evil in this play contrasts with good. Shakespeare realizes that through means of
imagery, symbolism and repetition. We discover the image of the ill-fitting garments as being
recurent in the play, and the contrast between light and darkness is part of a general
antithesis between good and evil, devils and angels, hell and heaven.
The end of the play which reveals Malcom`s victory over Macbeth represents the fact that
good has beat evil and so peace has been restored in Scotland. Malcom`s words show the
destruction of evil and the restoration of order and harmony by a young and rightful king: We
will perform in measure, time and love. (act V, scene 9)
II. 4. Conclusion
In conclusion, the play shows that there is order and meaning in the universe, and evil
doesn`t has the power to destroy it no matter would struggle.

III The discourse of deception
III. 1. Argument
I have decided to speak about deception because after reading the play, I realised that it
can be considered one of the main ideas which leads the whole action in Macbeth.
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III. 2. Definition of the concept
Deception means the act of tricking someone by telling them something that is not true.
III. 3. A thematic approach
As we could easily observe in Macbeth, things weren`t always as they seemed to be. In
fact, throughout the play, deception was always present not only with Macbeth but also with
Lady Macbeth and the three witches.
Deception was initiated in act I, scene 1,by the three witches through the words: Fair is
foul and foul is fair/ Hover through the fog and filthy air. The metaphor Fair is foul and foul
is fair means that everyting may not be as it seems and what is good and fair for humans, is foul
or bad for the witched. The epithet filthy air creates an atmosphere that humans would rather
shun as it is enjoyed by the witches. Also, filthy is an adjective that represents very good
deception.
The three witches are deceiving creatures as Banquo observes in act I, scene 3, that their
appearances defy reality, because even if they were women, they had beards.
Macbeth is a play about evil and in this case deception can be considered a significant
theme of it because it is known that for evil to succeed, it must be veiled as godness. Macbeth
knows that very well, and so does his wife who tells her husband to look like the innocent
flower, but be the serpent under`t. Lady Macbeth`s words also represent a metaphor through
which Shakespeare sugests that Macbeth must be evil on the inside and look innocent. So
according to this, they both should wear a mask of goodness in appearence so as to suit the
situation and hide their real malefic plans. In fact, this is what deception means in Macbeth: a
disconnection between appearence and reality, a teritory on which hypocrisy reignes.
Shakespeare uses irony to reveal in one way the deception of his characters. For
example, before being murdered , Duncan ironically makes the statement in act I, scene 5:
There`s no art to find the mind`s construction in the face. Duncan says this without having
any idea about Macbeth`s real intention. Also ironically are his remarks when arriving at
Macbeth`s castle: This castle hath a pleasant seat: the air/ Nimbly and sweetly recommends
itself/ Unto our gentle senses. (act I, scene 6) When saying these words Duncan had no idea
that this pleasant seat would be his cell.
Deception is present everywhere in this play. First the three witches deceive Macbeth,
then Lady Macbeth deceives her husband with words that determine him to kill the good King
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Duncan. After becoming king according the prophecy, Macbeth again deceives his friend
Banquo by ordering his death as the last would never have thought that Macbeth would ever
harm him. He also deceives the murderers by telling them it was Banquo`s fault.
Hypocrisy is the word that best fits with Macbth`s atitude after killing Duncan. When
everybody heard about their king`s death, Macbeth pretended to be devastated declaring there`s
nothing worth living for now, that Duncan is dead: there`s nothing seriouse in mortality/ All is
but toys; renown and grace is dead, the wine of life is drawn.
III. 4. Conclusion
In conclusion, to nothing served to Macbeth and his wife to deceive their king, their
friends and even their coutry in order to get the throne, because in the end, for them, Life`s but
a walking shadow; a poor player, / That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,/ And then
is heard no more: it is a tale/ Told by an idiot , full of sound, and fury,/Signifying nothing.-



















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Bibliography:
1. Blanu Iulia, Athes Haralambie, Cmeciu Camelia, Shakespeare. An
introductory guide, Edit. Tehnopres, Iasi, 2004
2. Scrii cartea de la Katy
3.