During the soliloquy Macbeth seems to have a split personality. One side of him is bent on killing the king; the other side is arguing against killing Duncan. He is extremely worried about the consequence and says, “The bloody . . . return to plague the inventor”. He seems to believe that killing would be putting . . . “The poisoned chalice to our own lips”. It switches from graphic language like “this blow might be the be-all and end-all-here.” Then more reasoned phrases like . . . “Besides this Duncan hath bourne his facilities so meek, hath been so clear in his great office.” The realisation of what he is about to do makes him speak very dramatically using words like “horrid deed” and “tears shall drown the wind.” This would have a huge effect on the audience e because it shows Macbeth does have a heart. This reveals that Macbeth is worried about the consequences, the audience would be angry with him because what he is doing is treason. I would set this scene with Macbeth in the spot light but his face over shadowed, but when he got to the line “The deep damnation . . .” I would have him lift his face so the audience can see it. He would look maniacal with a black background. This would show the audience how troubled Macbeth is with the thought of killing Duncan on his mind.
Lady Macbeth manipulates Macbeth in this scene by attacking him mentally, she says “when you durst do it, then you were a man”. This challenges Macbeth’s manhood, so Macbeth wants to prove to his manhood by killing his king. Lady Macbeth also says “does unmake you . . . have done this.” This shows how evil Lady Macbeth really is and it also makes Macbeth think, if a woman can do it I would surely be able to. I would stage this part with Macbeth in the middle and Lady Macbeth circling him, as if he were her prey and talking calmly as if it were nothing. I would also have Lady Macbeth’s words echoing, for added emphasise. I’d also have a hologram of a baby getting its brains dashed out in the background. This would illustrate her words in a shocking way, showing her ruthlessness, when the audience where probably looking on in disbelief.
Macbeth reacts to Lady Macbeths attack by answering “I dare do . . . more is none”. This proves Lady Macbeths attack has already had an effect on Macbeth. “I have brought golden opinions from all sorts of people”. This shows how Macbeth really feels; he does not want to do it because of what he has already. Towards the end of the scene Macbeth says “I am settled and bend up,” this shows Lady Macbeth has succeed in her plan to change her husbands mind into killing Duncan.
I would imagine this scene with Lady Macbeth elegantly striding across the room while her husband on the other hand is moving around the room as though he were lost. The way in which they move will show the audience who is in charge in this relationship. If the play was showing in Shakespeare’s time then the audience would be angry and shocked seeing a woman bossing a man about. In those times woman had no rights.
As I have shown the relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth is one of which the wife is in control, which is odd for the era in which this play is set. In those times wives were only for producing heirs and for the husband to express his sexuality. In other words “seen and not heard”.
