Act 2, scene 2 is an important section of the play. Explain how suspense is created in this scene. Describe how you think the part of Macbeth should be played to show how he reacts to events, and how his relationship with Lady Macbeth develops the scene

Act 2, scene 2 is the killing of Duncan. This scene is not shown on stage because it contains violence, and Duncan is killed in cold blood while he is sleeping. "And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, which was not so before" Macbeth says this after he has stabbed Duncan, this is an unpleasant site watching the drops of blood on the blade.

I think Act 2, scene 2 shows that the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is fake, Lady Macbeth does not seem to love him, she is with him because she knows he will be an important person and she pushes him into killing Duncan. Macbeth wanted to be king, but he didn't want to kill his friend Duncan.

This scene is set in the courtyard of Macbeth's castle. I would make it so that it is a very dark night and there would be stone benches in the middle of the courtyard, four of, organised in a square. There would be a few tall trees around the edges of the courtyard. So on the stage there would be the four benches centre stage and two fake trees either side of the stage. The image behind them would be the image of Macbeth's castle with low black clouds peering over the top. The moon would be to the right of the castle shining brightly through the gaps in the tree. The lighting would be situated where the moon is. There would be a dim light focusing on Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, and a bright light where the moon is casting dark moving shadows from the trees. The trees would be rustling with a fan on them or something. There would be background noise of violent thunder coming from the skies above. The atmosphere would be very tense as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are having a violent argument, because Macbeth comes back from Duncan's room with his hand covered in blood.

"So brainsickly of things. Go, get some water.

And wash this filthy witness from your hand."

I would create the scene like this because Macbeth is very uneasy due to what he has done, so the effects I described would create a perfect atmosphere to make him 'jumpy' and scared.

"I have done the deed. Didst thoust not hear a noise?" this is said by Macbeth when he arrives back at his castle and meets Lady Macbeth in the courtyard. To this Lady Macbeth replies "I heard the owl scream and the cricket cry. Did you not speak?" this implies that she heard the smallest of sounds from outside but did not hear at all the killing of Duncan. Also she heard the chirping of crickets which were believed to herald death. I think the way that Macbeth says "I have done the deed" is cold. Its like it was just a job that he had to do and it seems to have had no impact on his conscience. He acts like it was something he had to do.

At this point Lady Macbeth seems very calm for somebody who had just assisted in killing the King. Macbeth becomes slightly nervous when he asks "who lies I' the second chamber?" Lady Macbeth replies " Donalbain". Then |Macbeth looks down at his blood stained hands and says, "this is a sorry sight." This shows that the sight of his hands and the blood actually make him sad and miserable.

"There's one did laugh 's sleep, and one cried, "Murder!" While Macbeth was in Duncan's room he heard a man cry out the word murder in their sleep. Although they awoke "they did say their prayers, and addressed them again to sleep." They didn't know what was going on.

"Me though I heard a voice cry 'sleep no more!' Macbeth does murder sleep'- the innocent sleep, sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care, a death of each days life, saw labours bath, balm of hurt minds, great natures second course, chief nourisher in lifes feast". Macbeth believes he heard a voice say this but he did not, it was his guilt building up inside as he knew he has done wrong. The voice continued "still it cried, 'sleep no more!' To all the house:'glamis hath murder'd sleep, and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more!" this shows that it is really getting to Macbeth. In those two sentences from Macbeth there is a great repetition of the word sleep.

Act 2, scene 2 is an important part of the play as it shows the true character of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Macbeth is a strong, brave man on the battlefield but when killing his friend to become King it shows us that he has feelings and is not as cold blooded as first thought, we know this because he is showing guilt for what he has done. Whereas Lady Macbeth does not seem to be affected at all by what she has assisted in doing. She remains unaffected by all that has occurred and tells Macbeth what to do, this shows that she is cold blooded and will do anything to help Macbeth achieve greatness. Even if it is not what he wants to do, she will do her best to convince him that it is the right thing to do.