How does Shakespeare create dramatic tension inAct 2 Scene 1 and 2?

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How does Shakespeare create dramatic tension in

Act 2 Scene 1 and 2?

In this essay I will discuss how Shakespeare uses dramatic

tension in Act 2 Scene 1 and 2, and the effects it has on the

audience. In the first scene, Banquo and his son, Fleance, are on

their way to bed after a leaving King Duncan in his room, in Macbeth's

castle. On their way they meet Macbeth with a servant, in the

courtyard. Banquo brings up in the conversation how he can't sleep

properly after hearing the witches prophesy. Macbeth hints that he

looks for Banquo's support in future, but Banquo makes it clear that

he will only act honourably. As soon as Macbeth is alone, he imagines

that he sees a dagger, which is leading him to Duncan's room.

Macbeth's mind is in turmoil as whether to commit the murder or not.

When he hears the signal his mind is made up, and he goes to Duncan's

room to murder him.

In the second scene, Lady Macbeth has finished making the

preparations for Duncan's murder and is waiting for Macbeth to return.

When Macbeth returns, he's distracted. He has murdered Duncan, and is

now plagued with thoughts of his eternal damnation. Lady Macbeth

instantly takes control of the situation and tells Macbeth to pull

himself together, before someone finds out what he has done. He then

reveals to daggers which he has brought away with him from Duncan's

room, this potentially endangers the plan. When he refuses to take

them back, as he can't face what he has done, Lady Macbeth agrees to

do it for him. Once she returns, with blood-stained hands, the silence

is disturbed by a succession of loud bangs at the Castle gates. They

both panic and devise a plan, to put on their nightclothes and go to

bed, which would alleviate all suspicion from them. Throughout the two

scenes there is a theme of witchcraft and evil.

Scene one starts in the castles courtyard, in the middle

of the night. Only Banquo and his son Fleance are present. Fleance is

carrying a torch, for guidance in the dark, this would cast an aura

around his whole body. This suggests that he is heavenly, and after

the witches prophesising he would become king, who was Gods

representative on Earth, could seem to back up their prophesy. Fleance

mentions to his father that it is after midnight, but he has not

`heard the clock'. This is an anachronism, as in the time of Macbeth,

1040, clocks had yet to be invented. Although Banquo is nervous in the

dark, he asks his son to hold his sword for him, as he goes and looks

up to sky. "Their candles are all out", this means that there is no

stars in the sky, this was a sign of evil in Jacobean times. The

nervousness creates tension, as if something bad is about to happen.

Banquo also mentions to his son that he has been having sleepless

nights despite the fact that he is so tired. He says that he is having

`cursed thoughts'. These are nightmares, which in Jacobean times were

considered to be the work of the Devil. This relates back to the three

witches and their prophesy, as witches represent all evil on Earth. He

then goes on to beg the, `Merciful powers', to stop all his nightmares

by driving them away. Although he doesn't actually state what his

nightmares are about, we can guess that they are about the witches

prophesy.

Macbeth then enters with his servant, this scares the

nervous Banquo, who turns quickly and asks, `who's there?' When

Macbeth replies, `a friend', Banquo seems to relax a bit. But to the

audience, who already know of Macbeth's plan, dramatic irony, this is

where we begin to see Macbeth's deceitful side, as he deceives his old

friend, into a false sense of security. Banquo questions why it is

that Macbeth cannot sleep, as he knows the King enjoyed himself at the

banquet. This suggests that Banquo is suspicious of Macbeth and doubts

his friend intentions, knowing of the witches prophesy. Banquo also

comments on the diamond, which the King gave to Lady Macbeth for being

such a good hostess. "This diamond he greets your wife withal". A

diamond was regarded as a charm against witchcraft and nightmares.

This is ironic as Lady Macbeth is corrupt by evil, and later has

nightmares, but Banquo who is loyal and honest, is having nightmares

which no one can prevent. Banquo seems to regain some trust in his

friend, when he tells him of his nightmares of the three witches.

Macbeth lies to him and says that he does not think about them; but he

is interested in knowing about Banquo's feeling towards them, "Some

words upon that business". This causes tension as we now know that

Macbeth is up to something and, although not directly, is asking if

Banquo will support him in any decisions he makes. Due to Banquo being

so honest and loyal, tension is created by us not knowing if he will

tell someone what Macbeth has done, should he suspect something.

When Banquo and Fleance leave, Macbeth then commands his
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servant to leave and check on Lady Macbeth, so as she knows to ring

the bell, which is a pre-arranged signal. "Go bid thy mistress... She

strike upon thy bell." The use of imperatives show that Macbeth is in

command and has authority. The bell also creates tension as it gives

us the impression that he will go through with the plan, this creates

tension as we have to wait for the signal before the murder can go

ahead. This gives Macbeth time to talk himself out of it, or get

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