Betrayal and Destiny -- Macbeth reflection

Macbeth was Shakespeare’s second play I ever read and I was really excited in reading it. This play has marked so many aspects of western culture such as the view of witches around a cauldron, and is one of the most famous works of betrayal. For this reason I really looked forward to the play, and now that I have read it I really liked several themes in the play.
The play has many themes, one of them is betrayal. The play begins with the treachery of the Thane of Cawdor to the Scottish crown. Macbeth is rewarded for his loyalty to Duncan by being given lordship over Cawdor after the traitor has been executed, yet quite ironically the new Thane will continue the betrayal trend. Shakespeare clearly used this to show how treachery can come from anyone, even if they have proven loyal always. In fact, the betrayals in the play come from the most unexpected sources for the victims. “I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed; then, as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself. “ (Act I, sc. Vii, 13) Duncan might have suspected from anyone but Macbeth, who just risked his life in his own name and received a new title. Macbeth betrayed Banquo, his closest friend and companion in war. We can also see how Ross, one of Macbeth’s closest counselors, leaves to favor the British. Though not comparable not Macbeth’s betrayal, it is still one. This theme reminded me of the Godfather’s famous axiom, “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.” Only in the play we could write it as “Your friends are close, but your enemies even closer”. This theme is also very true in human nature. We as animals always tend to think of personal benefit first, no matter from who it comes or who it affects. As a student we hope many times that in an essay or test others will do worse than you so their mistakes highlight your traits in writing. Jealousy also brings betrayal as we want to gain what other have, yet we are often incapable of doing the effort. Despite being written in 1606, Macbeth still depicts betrayal in humans perfectly. Such a characteristic trait for humans is unchanging throughout centuries of human development.
A second theme in Macbeth is destiny. This is shown through the Weird Sisters as their predictions always occur. This all begins even before we hear about Macbeth in the opening scene of the play, where the witches begin plotting their meeting with Macbeth. “When the battle’s lost and won.” (I.i.4) Without realizing it, we are being told a prediction of the future battle that will occur in the second act. When Macbeth meets the sisters he is told he will become Thane of Cawdor and afterwards king, but here is where the destiny debates comes in, had Macbeth not spoken to the Weird Sisters would he have killed Duncan? He would have probably become Thane of Cawdor, but maybe he would have stayed only that. We don’t see any ambition to become king in Macbeth in these initial scenes. Did the Witches influence determine Macbeth’s future or did it simply announce an already determined fate? The same occurs with the three apparitions in Act 4, Scene 1 where they say to Macbeth to beware of Macduff and showed him his safeguards from harm, “For none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.” (IV.i.91) Had the sisters not warned him about Macduff, perhaps Macbeth would have spared his family. Had he not been sure Birnam Wood would not move, would he have taken action against the British before they became a real threat? The issue of predestination is an ever-present thought in humans. Why are we in this Earth? Do we have a purpose? Shall we create our own purpose? Is there someone or something that controls what happens to us or is it our own making? The Weird Sisters perfectly depict this doubt as we see them manipulating Macbeth, yet they do not seem to gain anything out of the whole play.
Perhaps the greatest trait in Macbeth is his development as a human. In fact, it wasn’t development but decadence. Macbeth begins the play as a loyal, brave soldier who fights for the Scottish crown. He still remains that way until the first murder. He doubts Lady Macbeth’s plotting, realizing the terrible thing betrayal and murder is. His own wife says Macbeth is a good person, maybe too good, “Yet do I fear thy nature; it is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness” (I.v.17) He takes several scenes in the play to finally murder Duncan and we see his moral struggle throughout this process. Yet after the murder, Macbeth changes. Banquo’s murder he plans in a single scene, and Macduff’s murder he plans in a single phrase “Thou shalt not live, that I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies, and sleep in spite of thunder.” (IV.i.95) This way we see how Macbeth turns more evil and evil, quickly leaving Lady Macbeth behind, who was originally the mastermind of their plot. Macbeth fights against everything until he is killed by Macduff, Lady Macbeth goes crazy because of her murder and betrayal and that leads her to suicide. Macbeth has become so cold that when he hears of her death, he simply says, “She should have died hereafter.” (V.v.20) As I see it, there is no return from evil, Lady Macbeth ended up dead because of her guilt and Macbeth remained evil until the end of his life.
Overall, Macbeth was a superb play to read and analyze and it has remained a valid way to portray human nature after 400 years of its creation.