In this speech Macbeth explores his mind and we are left to interpret what has caused him to fall into this state. “A false creation, proceeding from the heat oppressed brain”, this refers to the dagger he sees before him and whether this is real or if it has been created by his corrupted mind. Also this could apply to him becoming king and if it is just a fantasy or maybe it is true what the witches are telling him . We are not told if it is either, and so therefore this is left to our imagination to translate the meaning of these words, this is more exciting and accomplishes the aim in working the audiences minds into a frenzy of fear and excitement. Later Macbeth describes the deed as a “bloody business”, business makes the whole deed seem more formal and not as an act of desire but a daily event which has to be performed, this makes the sentence more menacing in the minds of the audience that a human can be so clinical in a such a serious act. The alliteration also helps to intensify the violent crime.
When the “knell” rings to tell Macbeth to go and kill Duncan, he says a very ominous few words. “Hear it not Duncan for it is a knell that summons you to heaven or hell”. The rhyme in this and also the alliteration makes what Macbeth is saying more prominent in peoples minds and would have also sharpened the atmosphere in the audience for the events that follow .To intensify this I would make the actor become a part of the crowd and really focus on the audience.
Whilst Macbeth is away doing the deed lady Macbeth becomes very anxious and nervy . Because the murder could not be performed on stage because of technical reasons and because aswell it was thought that seeing the murder may have lost the seriousness for the scene it seems right that lady Macbeth should narrate this part . This is because she planned the whole thing and guided Macbeth into it.
“He is about it” this is when she describes simply that Macbeth is killing Duncan. “I have drugged their possets “, she has drugged the body guards , this shows that she is very much in charge of the situation and shows strong control over Macbeth .Lady Macbeth is worrying about what is going on but she continues to disclose her thoughts and the happenings around her. This shows a strong and forceful character with high aspirations. This could also be that she is very determined to get what she wants and nothing will get in her way .
“I have done the deed” , these are the only words Macbeth uses after he has killed Duncan and reflect his sombre mood . Over acting of this scene would ruin the whole of the rest of the play , this simple and yet mysterious murder helps the audience become more involved with the thoughts which contaminate the minds of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth .
After Macbeth has really killed Duncan , he relives the murder in a frenzied nightmare. “one did laugh in’s sleep , and one cried , murder!” . This has been fabricated in Macbeth’s wild imagination and from this the audience can portray this as a weakness in personality . Macbeth thinks he has heard people praying and then going back to sleep. His fragile mind and uncontrollable imagination extends the audiences feeling of his madness . “Hangmans hands” , the alliteration of this is used to make gruesome images in the audiences minds , and also shows how unstable Macbeth is in his nightmare . “Sleep no more , Macbeth does murder sleep .” , this is very clever because it illustrates that Macbeth is very woried about what he has done and because of that he has created these thoughts in his mind that because he killed Duncan in his sleep he shall never sleep again . With this the audience can now understand that Macbeth has a weak character and is worried now and is starting to show remorse .
At this stage Lady Macbeth has authority over the predicament and tries to calm down Macbeth . “Consider it not so deeply …, it will make us mad” , Lady Macbeth’s solidarity is back and treats Macbeth as a child . Here she is reliable and in complete control and looks to be the one who is the directing force behind this act.
