Double Agent Lennox

     Lennox's occupation in Scotland was not only to be a thane to the throne, but also a double agent.  In Act III Scene VI of Macbeth, the audience witnesses a Lord tell Lennox that Macduff has gone to England in search of Malcolm.  Then after Macbeth has spoken to the witches in Act IV Scene I, Lennox tells him that a few men rode by on horses, bringing the information that Macduff went to England.  These contradictory events may at first lead the audience to be puzzled; however, the only explanation for these unaligned circumstances is that Lennox is an agent for both sides.  He was spying for Macbeth when he gathered information of Macduff from the Lord, but he was also spying on Macbeth when he communicated his information to the individuals on horseback.  Through the events that take place at the end of Act III and the beginning of Act IV, the role of Lennox as a double agent becomes evident.

     This can be reflected outside of the play in other fictional spies.  Among these characters is the individual that most likely crosses your mind first, James Bond.  Although this individual has been portrayed by several different actors throughout the James Bond franchise, he has always had the identity of Agent 007.  Similarly, Lennox has been playing both sides of this corrupt Scotland; nevertheless, he has always been an agent.