In line 51 Lady Macbeth glimpses the daggers in Macbeth’s hand, she tells him to return them to “the place”. However, her refuses to “look on’t again”. In Macbeth’s speech the crime is never mentioned by its name; this could be a result of his guilt. He is also afraid to look at what he has done; we can say this because he openly admits to his wife; “I am afraid to think what I have done”. It is apparent that Macbeth is overwhelmed with guilt and depression. This speech (lines 53-54) for Macbeth should be spoken with a tremble. He should be able to reveal his guilt and regret with this tone. By using a tremble in his voice it should appear to the audience that Macbeth is facing up to the reality of the deed with a struggle.
It is here that Lady Macbeth accuses Macbeth of being a coward; calling him “infirm of purpose”. She then taunts him by saying he has “the eye of childhood”. She compares the dead to the “sleeping” and to “pictures” because they are both unaware of ones presence. In line 59 Lady Macbeth makes a nervous joke, saying she will “gild the faces of the grooms… for it must seem their guilt”. The reason behind this comment maybe because she is trying to hide her agitation or uneasiness. She then leaves to place the daggers by the “sleepy grooms”.
In line 60-66 there is a knocking at the gate. This a significant event in the scene especially for the audience . It creates a tense atmosphere because there is a risk of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth being discovered. The knocking, from a dramatic point of view, could come in a little later after Lady Macbeth’s departure when Macbeth is on his own in complete silence; it could therefore be used to break this and add even more tension to the scene. The knocking also startles Macbeth, indeed “every noise appals him”. He is also shocked at the sight of his hand. He questions: “What hands are here? Ha: they pluck out mine eyes”; he believes that his hands are so hideous to look at that they blind him. This shows a characteristic in Macbeth that is not perceived before. It appears that he is quite sensitive. We can say this because he is known as a hero throughout Scotland and a courageous soldier on the battlefield. Evidently he has killed many people in war. It is for this reason that he shows his sensitivity; one murder has completely destroyed his mental state in this scene.
An interesting comment is made by Macbeth in line 63. He asks if “…all great Neptune’s Ocean will ever wash this blood clean from my hand?” He then answers himself, saying: “No: this hand will rather…[make]… the green one red”. He is convinced that there is so much blood on his hands that it will turn the sea from green to red. At this point Lady Macbeth returns and notices her “…hands of your colour” however she would be embarrassed “to wear a heart so white”.
In line 68 there is another knocking at the gate ; this again creates suspense about them getting caught. This knocking could again be used, from a dramatic point of view, to break up the escalating argument between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. It reminds her that they still haven’t washed their hands. Her attitude towards the knocking is very calm and composed. She contrasts with Macbeth who was startled by the noise. Another comparison is made when she remarks about the fact that “a little water clears us of this deed”. It is also ironic because in Act 5, Scene 1 she has an “accustom’d action” to wash her hands constantly.
The third knocking signals extreme risk; Lady Macbeth senses this and tells her husband to “get on your nightgown” and get up to bed. This speech, from line 72-75, should be spoken quickly and impatiently, and the last line should be added with anger against Macbeth who is “…lost so poorly in…[his] thoughts”.
The last knock comes after Macbeth’s first line: “To know my deed, ‘twere best not to know myself”. He clearly regrets the murder and believes that at the thought of his crime it was better that he didn’t know his past; he was Thane of Cawdor and Glamis, a brave soldier and loyal servant to the king. This all makes the crime more ghastly because he knew and respected Duncan. Then after the last knocking Macbeth says “Wake Duncan with thy knocking: I would thou couldst.” This line could indicate Macbeth’s hysteria if it were spoken loudly. It would then appear to the audience that Macbeth is unaware of the consequences of their capture.
In this scene we learn a lot about Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s character and their relationship as husband and wife. Already we can see that Duncan’s murder has had a negative effect on them especially on Lady Macbeth. She insults Macbeth and loses all respect for him. The consequences of their act also affects them in the long run; Lady Macbeth becomes mentally unstable which influences her death and Macbeth becomes so eager to keep his title that it leads him to the murder of his bests friend; Banquo. This scene, therefore, has huge significance to the rest of the play; it is where Macbeth and Lady Macbeth commit a crime which has a horrendous impact on the rest of their lives.