How Does Shakespeare Make Act Two, Scene Two of Macbeth Especially Dramatic?

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How Does Shakespeare Make Act Two, Scene Two Especially Dramatic?

        There are many ways in which Shakespeare makes the scene dramatic. First of all, and probably most importantly, this is a key point in the story line. After Macbeth’s encounter with the witches, ideas are planted into to his mind. This point is where Macbeth turns philosophy into action, stops thinking about the consequences and acts. He takes a big leap from his deepest darkest desires and turns them into a reality.

        The first and probably most distinctive element of drama is the shrieking owl. Lady Macbeth makes the comparison between the owl and the ‘Fatal Bellman.’  As the murder is actually occurring off stage, we do not know precisely what is happening. The shriek, although Shakespeare dictates it to be merely an owl, leaves the audience only to guess as to where or whom it came from. It is in fact, this use of audience imagination. The mysteriousness of it all. Allowing the audience to use their own fears in substitute what it really is happening, possibly is what makes the whole ordeal even more chilling.

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        We don’t see Macbeth murder Duncan. We start the scene with Lady Macbeth, waiting near Duncan’s room. We simply see Macbeth enter with ‘two bloody daggers’. This in fact, creates even more tension. The idea that we don’t actually know whether Duncan is dead yet. Perhaps he is merely wounded. We are (for a short period of time) only left to guess what precisely happened during the murder.

        Macbeth and Lady Macbeth meet up, after the deed. At first, Lady Macbeth doesn’t realise it’s her husband. Probably because it’s too dark. Immediately after she recognises her husband, ...

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