Thane of Cawdor: What it Represents
In The Tragedy of Macbeth, the irony of Macbeth’s new title as Thane of Cawdor foreshadows his treason to the king and creates suspense for the audience. In the second scene of the tragedy, we are informed of the treason of the previous Thane of Cawdor and that the title falls onto Macbeth: “No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive / Our bosom interest. Go, pronounce his present / death, / And with his former title greet Macbeth”(1. 2.73-76). The only characteristic linked to the previous Thane of Cawdor is treachery, and once King Duncan assigns it to Macbeth, it is only fitting that Macbeth betrays him in some form. His new title is revealed to him by the Weird Sisters, along with his future as king:
In The Tragedy of Macbeth, the irony of Macbeth’s new title as Thane of Cawdor foreshadows his treason to the king and creates suspense for the audience. In the second scene of the tragedy, we are informed of the treason of the previous Thane of Cawdor and that the title falls onto Macbeth: “No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive / Our bosom interest. Go, pronounce his present / death, / And with his former title greet Macbeth”(1. 2.73-76). The only characteristic linked to the previous Thane of Cawdor is treachery, and once King Duncan assigns it to Macbeth, it is only fitting that Macbeth betrays him in some form. His new title is revealed to him by the Weird Sisters, along with his future as king: