Before the murder, Lady Macbeth was an ambitious and conniving wife, she was a strong and demanding lady. Lady Macbeth had planned and organised the clever murder attack. She is in control of her husband for most of the play she persuades him to carry out the murder but she does not have the confidence to commit it herself. Lady Macbeth describes Macbeth as a ‘coward’ this shows she mocks him for having the power to do it. Lady Macbeth is anxious and nervous before the murder if her husband decided not to commit the crime.
Shakespeare uses a variety of ways to create tension before the murder of King Duncan. At the beginning of the play it is a completely dark eery night, the sky is pitch black with no stars or moon, I know this because Banquo says ‘Their candles are all out’ this shows how dark it is and this links to the theme of evil of the play. Banquo cannot sleep he say she is having cursed thoughts this builds tension before the murder. Everyone speaks in whispers, this adds the effect of secrets being hidden. Macbeth and the audience are tense because we are intrigued to find out if Banquo suspects anything about the murder. In the Macbeth soliquoy Shakespeare uses a vocabulary of words such as ‘blade and dungeon gouts of blood’ and ‘bloody’ this gives a harsh reality to what he has to do. The atmospheres between characters are misty, spooky and mysterious.
Act 2 Scene 2 takes place after the murder if King Duncan this scene begins with Lady Macbeth alone in darkness waiting for her husband she is quite tense. The atmosphere is tense secretive, eery and it is a dark night. After the murder at the beginning Macbeth regrets murdering the king he says ‘This sorry sight’ Lady Macbeth replies with ‘ a foolish though to say a sorry sight.’ Macbeth behaves tense nervous and on edge. He is looking his hands it shows he is still regretting what he has done showing remorse for his crime, after this we a get a clear idea Lady Macbeth is in control again. Macbeth is anxious, distraught and scared he says ‘There’s one did laugh in’s sleep, and one cried’ ‘Murder’ ‘that they did wake each other: I stood and heard them: But they did say their prayers, and address’d them Again to sleep’ this shows how scared and suspicious he is. Macbeth even thinks that the guards have seen him commit the murder. Macbeth says he will not be able to sleep again, the king was sleeping innocently and he took his life away. He says ‘ Macbeth shall sleep no more’ he says he will never rest again, now he has done this, things are never going to be the same again.
Lady Macbeth behaves anxiously, excited and still in control of her husband during the beginning she worries that he has not murdered him, she says ‘Alack, I am afraid they have awaked, and ‘tis not done.’ I know she in control as she expresses her power and gives him six instructions, these include: getting some water, washing his hands, taking the daggers back and cleaning the blood off them. He refuses and says he cannot look at them again she replies and says ‘ Infirm of purpose! Give me daggers’ At this point there is a knocking on the door this builds attention on stage, we know that someone is coming this makes us wonder if they are going to be discovered. Macbeth says ‘Whence is that knocking? How is’t with me, when every noise appals me? What hands are here? Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood, clean from my hand?’ He is saying that he cannot believe what he has done. Macbeth is releasing that no amount of water is going to wash away the crime he has committed. Lady Macbeth disagrees and does not believe this she is saying that even thou she has done this crime with him, she is ashamed he such a coward. A little water clears us of this deed: How easy is it then’ she is saying that how this has not affected her, this shows us how heartless Lady Macbeth is. The two remaining orders she gave were to get your nightgown and to stop worrying. Macbeth says ‘To know my deed, ‘twere best not know myself.’ He says that, if he excepts what he has done he rather not know himself. ‘Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst’ ~If he could turn back the hands of time, he would have Duncan alive. He feels bad and remorse for what he has done.
Lady Macbeth in total control and ordering Macbeth around. Macbeth says ‘ God bless us and Amen the other’ this shows he is standing up to her and they are falling apart. Their relationship changes Macbeth gains power as Lady Macbeth looses it. He becomes over confident and evil. His ambition is often thought to be a good quality for him but he takes it too far to get what he wants. He is confused between reality and dreams.
