How does Shakespeare create dramatic tension in these scenes?

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Macbeth

Act 2, Scene 1~2

How does Shakespeare create dramatic tension in these scenes?

Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare circa 1605, is one of the world's best-known plays. It is a tragedy set in medieval Scotland, based on the true story of a Scottish Thane, the eponymous hero Macbeth, whom is prophesised by three witches to become the Thane of Cawdor and King. When Macbeth is declared Thane of Cawdor, he ponders upon the truth of the witches' words and, along with his wife Lady Macbeth, plot to murder the King Duncan and become ruler of all Scotland.

The content of Act 2, scene 1 and 2 are of critical importance to the understanding of Macbeth. These are the scenes which follow the events, thoughts and emotions of all characters involved before, during and after the murder.

Before Act 2, Scene 1 begins, Shakespeare gives a rare stage direction ~ "Fleance bearing a torch." This is significant as it is to show the audience that it is night time and therefore is dark. Night time has sinister connotations; it is when crimes take place, so even before the characters speak, there is an uneasy atmosphere and the tone of the scene established.

The scene opens with an interrogative from Banquo (a friend and ally of Macbeth)~ "How goes the night, boy?" This interrogative creates a sense of mystery and confusion. From the start it seems as if the characters are uncertain, and the audience is given the feeling that things are slightly out of joint. The atmosphere of uncertainty continues through the former half of the scene.

Fleance (son of Banquo) speaks that he has "not heard the clock". The characters are unable to establish the exact time, though the audience can be sure it is later because of the darkness surrounding them.

Shakespeare implies to the audience that it is midnight, "she goes down at twelve". Midnight has certain clichés and conventions attached to it, such as the 'Witching Hour', thus giving an eerie and sinister atmosphere. In Shakespeare's time, the audience would have been thoroughly disturbed at the implication of witches, as most would have believed that they existed and were the cause of evil and horrific deeds. At this point, the audience would be preparing themselves for something unexpected to happen, a feeling reinforced by Shakespeare's use of dramatic tension only three lines into the play.

The idea of darkness and all of its clichés links again with "there's a husbandry in heaven". It appears to the characters that heaven is being economical, saving on lighting, due to the lack of stars in the sky~ "their candles are all out". Once more, Shakespeare wishes to convey the idea of pitch-blackness to the audience (the play would have been performed in mid afternoon), which in itself creates an ominous atmosphere.

The character Banquo speaks in a tone that suggests great weariness. He uses imperatives, such as "Hold, take my sword" and "take thee that too", as if he is lacks the strength to carry his own weapons. It is revealed that Banquo is unable to sleep~ "a heavy summon lies like lead upon, and yet I would not sleep", clearly implying that there is something bothering him. This turns out to be due to "cursed thoughts" or nightmares, that he has been experiencing. The audience begins to question the severity of this man's nightmares~ he is a brave, valiant and courageous warrior, not

one to be frightened of going to sleep. The idea of sleeping is a prominent one in Macbeth that arises later in the play when certain events come about.

An unexpected interrogative, "Who's there?" startles the audience with its abruptness. With the imperative "Give me my sword", it works to portray Banquo as anxious, tense and on edge. This shouldn't be so as he is in his good friend and ally's castle, and should be at ease. Could this be linked to his nightmares? Another point concerning this minor sentence is that it interrupts the iambic pentameter that Shakespeare maintains in his plays. It is only five beats; instead of a usual ten beats per line, and so jolts and distorts the rhythm. Iambic pentameter, as well as reflecting the natural pattern of human speech, also is used to resemble to human heart rate. This may also mirror the heartbeat of Banquo, which is out of rhythm too due to anxiety. The remaining beats are acted out on stage as a four second pause. This pause adds to the dramatic tension; the audience are kept in suspense as they try to guess who the mysterious figure is.

The uneasy atmosphere in the audience is dissipated when it becomes apparent that the mysterious figure roaming about in the dark is Macbeth. Banquo confides in his friend of why he cannot sleep~ "I dreamt last night of the weird sisters", meaning the three witches that prophesised he and Macbeth's futures. A Shakespearean audience would have empathised with Banquo's inability to sleep. They too would have been thoroughly disturbed at the prospect of witches; even King James I, whom Shakespeare was employed by, believed that Witches existed. He wrote 'On Daemonology' and personally devised and carried out the torture of witches.

When Banquo brings up the matter of the witches, Macbeth seems keen to change the subject ~ "I think not of them". The audience will already be aware that Macbeth has thought a lot about the witches and their prophesy, and so will also know that he is denying his feelings, and is lying to his friend Banquo. Suspicions of Macbeth will arise. The nervy, edgy feeling is shown in Macbeth by the way Shakespeare sets out the speech. "I think not of them" is directly underneath Banquo's last words, which tells the actor playing Macbeth that they must interrupt Banquo and cut across his words.

An atmosphere of conspiracy and secrecy is created by Shakespeare's use of Macbeth's bribe to Banquo~ "If you shall cleave to my consent when tis', I shall make honour for you." The Gunpowder Plot can historically account for this theme of conspiracy in Macbeth. It was a significant event, that also involved secrecy, plots and treason (a later theme in Macbeth), around the time that Shakespeare was composing Macbeth. Almost certainly Shakespeare would have has knowledge of the occurrence; he would have past the heads of the plotters on Tower Bridge on the way to work (which incidentally was for King James I..), thus perhaps provoking Shakespeare to involve similar themes in his work.
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The soliloquy of Macbeth is of crucial importance to the understanding of what follows in the play. A soliloquy conventionally allows the audience to have unlimited access to the character's emotions; a character will never lie whilst they are soliloquising, thus providing an accurate and truthful insight into their mind.

Macbeth's soliloquy is of disturbing content, mirroring his obviously afflicted state of mind. It begins with an interrogative, "is this a dagger which I see before me?" This interrogative is extraordinary as there are no other characters on stage. Macbeth appears to be speaking with himself; he ...

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