During Act 2, Scene 2, Lady Macbeth shows the audience just how strong she has become. As Macbeth narrates to her the gruesome details of the murder, the shrieks of owls and crickets are heard in the background. This subtly creates suspense and tension in this scene as it breaks the chilling silence that is created after the murder. Following the previous events, Macbeth becomes increasingly paranoid about being found out, and so Lady Macbeth tells him to pull himself together “but I shame to wear a heart so white.” She seems to think that by simply washing his hands, “a little water cleans us of this deed” he will become eliminated from the aftermath of the crime. Lady Macbeth seems to be untouchable and this begins to scare Macbeth and the audience. It has become evident that she is capable of anything, she even states
“How tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me; I would, while it was smiling in my face, have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums and dash’d the brains out.”
Her willingness to reject her natural mothering instincts and murder her own children is something that no mother could possibly be capable of, except for her. She demonstrates the theme of evil, which runs throughout the play and this is greatly influenced by the witches.
Act 3, Scene 2 establishes a role reversal between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Beforehand, Lady Macbeth had been seen as the unannounced leader in their relationship, often telling her husband how he should act. But in this scene, Macbeth makes a point of not informing her of his plans and telling her that they must “make our faces vizards to our hearts…” This short scene momentarily allows the audience into the private thoughts of the murderous couple, whilst holding the action in suspense. Neither Macbeth nor his wife seems completely at ease; in the earlier murder, Lady Macbeth was undoubtedly in command as it was Macbeth that needed convincing. But in this scene the weaker role is passed on to his wife. Towards the end of the scene, Macbeth’s line “Thou marvell’st at my words” suggests that Lady Macbeth is gradually responding. Once so calm and collected, she is losing the composure that allowed her to mentally prepare for Duncan’s murder. As the play progresses, she is becoming less sure of herself and her abilities. Lady Macbeth’s language in this scene allows Shakespeare to play on the power relationship between husband and wife. This is shown in two different ways: First, by Lady Macbeth’s innocent-sounding questions and second, by Macbeth’s adoption of animal imagery. He takes on the same horror filled language used by his wife in Act 1 scene 5, imagining his mind to be “full of scorpions” and “shard-borne beetles.” Shakespeare has created tension and suspense in this scene as the audiences are beginning to witness the break down of Lady Macbeth. It is the fear of the unknown that she is experiencing that creates suspense, but in a subtle manner.
In Act 1, Scene 5, the audience finally witnesses the mental breakdown of the once strong, persuasive and incisive Lady Macbeth. This scene shows just how pressurised she has felt throughout the play and how she realises that what they have done cannot be erased by simply living in denial. The concluding line of the last scene “the night Is long that never finds the day” sets the scene as night for this act. The theme of darkness and light runs throughout the play and carries with it a very powerful significance. “She has light by her continually.” Whilst the rest of the room is plunged into darkness, Lady Macbeth subconsciously feels the need to have a candle by her side. Light traditionally represents purification and goodness whereas darkness conjures up images of evil. “Stars, hide your fires: Let not light see my black and deep desires.” Lady Macbeth then continues to say “Hell is murky” and this spiritual darkness is echoed in the fact that this entire scene is played entirely in the dark except for that one candle. It is ironic as at the beginning of the play she willingly invited the evil in and now she is desperately trying to avoid it.
In this scene, Lady Macbeth is seen to rub her hands in a washing action “Out damned spot! Out, I say!” and this recalls her line “a little water clears us of this deed.” Beforehand, she was convinced that by having Macbeth wash his hands, he would also be washing his hands of the terrible deed he had committed. Now, Lady Macbeth repeats these actions whilst sleepwalking, almost as if trying to subconsciously detach herself from the crimes. She then continues with “all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand, O, O, O.” She has now started to realise that although water may cleanse her of the blood, it will not remove all of her feelings. Maybe her regret isn’t as skin deep as she originally thought.
Sleep is also a continuous theme throughout “Macbeth” and sleep is considered to be the sign of a clear conscience. An inability to sleep shows Lady Macbeth’s tortured mind and guilty conscience. As the Gentlewoman lists her actions it gradually creates suspense as what she has been doing has an element of precision and repetition to it. You wouldn’t necessarily expect a sleepwalker to have these abilities.
“Unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it, write upon’t, read it, afterwards seal it, and again return to bed.”
Previously in the play, Macbeth states “Methought I heard a voice cry ‘sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep!” This clearly shows how much sleep is valued and the importance it has upon the characters.
Lady Macbeth’s language in this scene changes dramatically. Beforehand, she spoke persuasively and had the ability to domineer over her husband. Whereas in this scene, she begins to ramble and become unsure of what she is saying. ”Wash your hands…look not so pale.”
As the Doctor and the Gentlewoman discuss Lady Macbeth’s current condition, the Doctor states “You see her eyes are open”, the Gentlewoman replies with “Ay, but her senses are shut.” These two lines highlight the difference between looking and understanding. Lady Macbeth may be able to see what she is doing but doesn’t fully understand the affects. This relates back to her plan of murdering the King. She has the inability to realise how much hurt and anguish she has caused, all because of her overwhelming sense of ambition. The Doctor realises that it is not a Doctor that she needs, it is a “Divine” priest. He has understood that she is not suffering from medical problems, but a much more psychological problem. A priest may help her to “discharge their secrets.”
This scene is cleverly structured as it combines all of the previous factors of the play into this one scene. It relates the way in which Lady Macbeth is currently feeling to how she felt before. This scene makes clear comparison to her state of mind throughout the play and gradually brings Lady Macbeth to her final breaking point, in which she commits suicide.
Overall, the presentation of Lady Macbeth in the play “Macbeth” creates tension and suspense in a very subtle manner. It is not always apparent to the audience that she is gradually reaching a breaking point owing to the fact that she is a strong woman and often disguises her emotions.
