In "Macbeth", William Shakespeare employs the contrast of night and day to illustrate the theme of feigned loyalty particular to Macbeth and Lady. The characters demonstrate their loyalty to others in the day, but reveal their true sentiment at night. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth discuss their actual desires and conspiracies at night and accomplish their plans under the cover of darkness. The characters feign and must show loyalty in the daytime to conceal their real intentions so their corruption would not be revealed and they would not be executed, as the Thane of Cawdor was executed for being a traitor.
             Although Macbeth demonstrates loyalty to Duncan, Macbeth's deceit shows at night when he murders Duncan, the King of Scotland. During the day, King Duncan congratulates Macbeth in the day on his successful battles and Macbeth describes his loyalty and subservience to the king. "The service and the loyalty I owe in doing it pays itself... our duties are to your throne"(p.27) Macbeth's subservience is reflected through his words, but Duncan cannot suspect his betrayal because the other characters possess the predictable, loyal behavior as the king's subjects. But at night, Macbeth can speak openly about his plans to murder Duncan and no longer conceal his emotions as he did with the king. In Act 2, Scene 1, Banquo and Fleance have a conversation about the night and later, Macbeth is left alone to speak about the plans for Duncan's murder. "Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell[bell] that summons thee to heaven or to hell" (p.53). This shows Macbeth's genuine, but selfish character that leads him to murder and his open reflection pertaining to the murder at night.
             The doubtful friendship between Banquo and Macbeth, the indirect murderer of Banquo, remains in the day while the Banquo's quiet death occurs at night. Macbeth and Banquo both pretend in the day to be in...