“…The raven himself is hoarse. That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan…”
The word “fatal” implies that she will bring about his death. This along with the signifier of the raven, a bird of ill omen would create tremendous anxiety in the audience about the fate of Duncan. This unease and tension is only finally released with the death of Macbeth who by now is known as butcher and tyrant.
The opening scene starts with three witches confronting us. This alone would have created mystery and fright to the audience, setting the scene of the play to come. “Macbeths” was written in a period when there was a high interest in witchcraft and the supernatural. People were confused and scared by the supernatural, so the sight of three witches would have told the audience that the story is full of evil and lie’s. An eerie mood is created at the beginning of the play by the introduction to the witches, which creates unease for the audience as they wonder what’s to come in the play. The very presence of witches on the stage to launch the play would have a dramatic impact on the audience. They chant,
“…When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lighting or in rain…”
This creates unease because they are already planning to meet and when they do, they mention three weathers, which are all linked with a disturbance in nature.
Their words are a paradox
“…When the hurly-burly’s done, when the battles lost, and won….”
The word “hurly-burly” meaning turmoil and upset must create a strange atmosphere because it could refer to either the spell they have just made or the battle that is about to come. Also when they say:
“…. When the battles lost, and won..”
Does not make sense because a battle cannot be lost and won, giving the audience a feeling of unease and tension.
Then they decide to meet when the sun sets which is the time when evil thrives. Agreeing to meet “Upon the heath” creates tension and unease because the heath is the same as moor land and people in Shakespeare’s time believed that witches and evil thrived in open areas. They say that they will meet Macbeth there, which automatically shows he is linked with evil giving the audience an idea that he will not be a very nice person.
When three witches say the last line
“…Fair is foul, and foul is fair, hover through the fog and filthy air...”
What the three witches are telling us is that what we expect might not be what we get, which could create a large amount of tension. The unknown of what’s going to happen creates tension as the audience are worried about what’s going to happen next as they do not know what to expect creates tension.
The weather is eerie as it sets disharmony between heaven and hell. The opening chanting from the witches is chilling and the content suggests that it has everything to be strange and eerie play. The witches speak in riddles, which will make the audience feel uncomfortable, as they have to work out what is being told to them. This chanting has a lot of impact, which shows to the audience the power of the witches. All of these things help to set the tone and mood for the play. Shakespeare uses the atmospheres as a technique to create unease. He does this by showing evil, darkness, and through the different locations. For example in Act1 S king Duncan says
“..This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air nimbly and sweetly recommends itself unto our gentle sense…”
Showing that when he arrives at the castle he does not realise that he is in danger which is dramatic irony as the audience know. Shakespeare uses the witches to create unease throughout the play. He does this by showing evil, hatred and by the temptation language they use.
Macbeth is thought of as a brave and valiant man because he has killed so many people and won the battle almost single-handily. The language used is quite horrific and the death of Macbeths victims are explained in all their gory detail. This may not have shocked the audience but it would tell the audience that such horror so early on in the play would ensure much more gore to follow.
The audience knows that Macbeth has been entitled `thane of Cawdor` before Macbeth actually is told himself. This creates dramatic irony that, in the next scene creates tension in the next scene. As in the next scene Act1 Scene 3 the witches malice and magic is shown as they await Macbeth and Banquo on the lonely moor. The two soldiers hear the witches prophecies with amazement. They tell that Macbeth shall be `Thane of Cawdor`.
“…Hail to thee. Thane of Cawdor…”
and that shall become king,
“…that shalt be king hereafter…”
Lady Macbeth understands her husband well. She knows, as we do, that he has great ambitions, but also knows that he would not betray king Duncan, as he is too kind to him. She knows that she will have to urge her husband on to become king, so she calls for evil spirits to help her. This would have created tension because it is of supernatural meanings again.
Lady Macbeth talks about how she will give up her tender, gentle womanly qualities, so that she can become sexless and pitiless,
“…unsex me here,
and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty..”
Lady Macbeths uses violent imagery in her monologue. She uses images of blood and darkness such as,
“…make thick my blood,
stop up the access and passage to remorse..”
This meaning how she make herself insensitive by blocking up all the pathways by which remorse can reach her heart. This language would seem very unwomanly to a Shakespearean audience.
Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that Duncan is to visit their castle tomorrow night. Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to leave everything up to her.
“…This nights great business into my dispatch..”
This creates anxiety, as the Shakespearian audience are shocked that a woman can be so evil and so witch like.
Shakespeare also uses Lady Macbeth, Macbeth, deception, and murder to create a sense of unease in the play. He does this by using Lady Macbeth’s ambitiousness and single mindedness, Macbeth’s violence and dark thoughts, the witches and Macbeth for deception and blood suspicion for murder.
Shakespeare’s use of language and structure manages to create tension and unease right up to the murder of King Duncan. He manages to gradually build it up and then release it a bit, and then increase it until finally the act of homicide takes place. His use of dramatic irony, the supernatural, and indecision all combine to keep the audience on the edges of their seats. His use of the right language in the right places helps the characters and the play to become really believable.
