Betrayal (disambiguation) facts for kids

Betrayal is when someone breaks the trust or loyalty they have with another person, a group, or even a country. It's like breaking a very important promise or going against someone you're supposed to support. This can make the person who was betrayed feel very hurt or disappointed.

What is Betrayal?

Betrayal happens when someone acts in a way that goes against what was expected of them, especially when there was a strong bond of trust. Imagine you have a secret, and you tell your best friend, trusting them not to tell anyone. If they then share your secret, that would be a betrayal of your trust.

Types of Betrayal

Betrayal can take many forms:

• Betrayal of Trust: This is the most common type. It's when someone you trust deeply does something that breaks that trust, like lying to you or sharing your secrets.
• Betrayal of Loyalty: This happens when someone switches sides or goes against a group or person they were loyal to. For example, a soldier who helps the enemy is betraying their country.
• Self-Betrayal: Sometimes, people can even betray themselves. This happens when they go against their own values, beliefs, or goals, often to please others or avoid difficulty.

Betrayal in Stories and Games

The idea of betrayal is very common in books, movies, and video games because it creates exciting and dramatic stories. Characters often face difficult choices, and sometimes, a character might betray another, leading to big changes in the plot.

Famous Examples

• Betrayal in Fiction: In the world of Star Wars, there are many stories about betrayal, like when characters switch from the good side to the dark side.
• Betrayal in Plays: The play Betrayal by Harold Pinter explores how betrayal affects relationships between friends and lovers.
• Betrayal in Games: The computer game Betrayal at Krondor is a role-playing game where players explore a world filled with adventure and, of course, acts of betrayal.

Betrayal in History and Politics

Sometimes, the word "betrayal" is used to describe events in history or politics, especially when people feel that leaders or countries didn't keep their promises.

Western Betrayal

The term "Western betrayal" is used by some people in countries like Poland and Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic and Slovakia). They use it to describe how they felt certain Western European countries didn't help them enough during important times in history, especially before and during World War II. They felt that these Western nations made agreements that didn't protect them, which they saw as a betrayal of their trust and safety.

Political Figures and Betrayal

• Ian Smith's Autobiography: The Great Betrayal is the name of an autobiography written by Ian Smith, who was a political leader in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in Africa. In his book, he shared his views on political events and what he considered betrayals during his time in power.

Images for kids

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