How Shakespeare kept his audience interested in Act 2 scenes 1&2 and Act 3 scene 4 of Macbeth.
How Shakespeare kept his audience interested in Act 2 scenes 1&2 and Act 3 scene 4. In Shakespearean times, they did not have any sophisticated stage equipment such as lighting and impressive sound effects. Shakespeare had to resort to other ways of keeping the audience who came to see his plays interested and satisfied. Shakespeare had managed to find very good ways to do this. I have studied three scenes form one of Shakespeare's most famous plays, Macbeth. They were Act 2 Scene 1, Act 2 Scene 2 and Act 3 Scene 4. These scenes were put in this play for special reasons, as I will discuss later on in this essay. Act 2 Scene 1 is Macbeth's famous soliloquy. Act 2 Scene 2 is where Macbeth discuses his problems with his wife and Act 3 Scene 4 is where Macbeth hosts a banquet. In this essay I am going to explain in detail how Shakespeare managed to keep his audience interested in these three key scenes. As mentioned earlier, Shakespeare managed to find good ways to go about the task of keeping his audience happy. In the 3 scenes mentioned, Shakespeare engages the interest of the audience by using powerful language and imagery, good dramatic technique, good character interactions and a good purpose and plot. I will discuss these points in more detail. Shakespeare was a great playwright. Many people are still big admirers of him even if it has been 500 years since his death. The
Examine Shakespeare's Presentation of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Act 3 Scene 2.
Examine Shakespeare's Presentation of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Act 3 Scene 2 The scene commences with a question conveying Lady Macbeth's increasing anxiety and doubts over their ambitious attempts to become King and Queen of Scotland, and then saying "Nought's had, all's spent / Where our desire is got without content." These lines from Lady Macbeth have the effect of portraying how Macbeth is concerned that despite their treacherous thoughts and actions, they remain discontented and unhappy. However, the entrance of Macbeth triggers a complete reversal in thought for Lady Macbeth, telling Macbeth "Things without all remedy / Should be without regard." This contrast between Lady Macbeth's thoughts alone compared to the ideas expressed in the presence of Macbeth show how Lady Macbeth is unwilling to reveal the full truth to Macbeth, as it would reduce Lady Macbeth's dominance over her husband if she were proven to be wrong in persuading Macbeth to commit the murder of King Duncan. This deceit used by Lady Macbeth is further evidence of the recurring "Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair" theme due to Lady Macbeth telling Macbeth how what's done is done, contrary to her own views and beliefs. Despite Lady Macbeth's assurance, Macbeth remains unconvinced, and comments how they have only partly completed their aim, saying, "We have scorch'd the snake, not kill'd it." This is a
In Act 2 scene 2 Lady Macbeth has drugged the guards of Duncan's chamber.
In Act 2 scene 2 Lady Macbeth has drugged the guards of Duncan's chamber. After she has drugged them she goes to meet her husband Macbeth in the courtyard. Macbeth does feel guilty about what he has done; Macbeth has bought the daggers with him by mistake, which would put them in great danger. Lady Macbeth now has to go back to the Kings chamber to return the daggers. If Macbeth hadn't realized that he had the daggers with him it would have been a disaster. Lady Macbeth seems to be more fearless, whereas Macbeth has a guilt conscious about everything. Macbeth is haunted on how he will never be able to sleep peacefully again as he says in line " "Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more." (41-42). Macbeth wants the crown yet he fears the consequences of his terrible deed. He is not denying that being king has never crossed his mind after the witches prediction where they hailed me ''king hereafter''. But he knows that it is wrong. Lady Macbeth is much more ambitious than him and will do anything to become Queen. That is what he fears the most. He told her that ''we will speak further'' but that just makes her more anxious to become queen. Macbeth did not wish to kill Duncan. He is the King's protector. The weird sisters do frighten him. Their prophecy was so strange. How could they possibly know about Macbeth
Tension in Macbeth - describe how tension is made in Act 2, Scenes 1 and 2.
Task: To describe how tension is made in Act 2, Scenes 1 and 2. English AFL Final Draft By Imani Anderson-Whittington Shakespeare created a lot of tension in Act 2, scenes 1 and 2. The tension made is one of the effects caused by the varied sentence lengths, pathetic fallacy, animal sounds, alliterations, oxymorons, emotions portrayed by the characters, and rhyme. Firstly, sentence structure is affective because it increases and decreases the 'flow' of the play and also, the rhyming scheme is affective as it gives pattern and rhythm. Macbeth said in his soliloquy, "I go and it is done. The bell invites me. Hear it not Duncan, for it is knell, that summons thee to heaven or hell." This means, if Macbeth goes then Duncan will definitely die by Macbeth's hands. The rhyming words 'knell' and 'hell' create a sense of rhythm and draws in the audiences more - therefore creating suspense. Secondly, Shakespeare used oxymorons. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms and therefore seems impossible. An example of one that is used in Act 2, scene 2 is when Lady Macbeth says, "My hands are of your colour; but I shame to wear a heart so white." She means that her hands are red (reference to the blood) too, but that she would be ashamed to have a heart as white (filled with guilt) as Macbeth's. It goes to show you how cold hearted Lady Macbeth is. The
In what ways does Shakespeare succeed in creating tension in Act 2 scene 2? (Macbeth).
Charles Watson 4H In what ways does Shakespeare succeed in creating tension in Act 2 scene 2? Macbeth was written in1605; this was a period where there was a great interest in witchcraft and the supernatural. Many people including James I were scared and confused by ideas of the supernatural. The opening scene would in itself create tension amongst the audience, as it would suggest a play full of evil and lies, and also a theme of opposites and contrasts which occurs in the play, 'Fair is foul, and foul is fair', 'so fair and foul a day'. This also links in with the appearance and reality of Macbeth. At the end of Act 2 Scene 1, and just following on from his soliloquy, Macbeth has been preparing himself to murder Duncan. There was a strong belief of the Divine Right of Kings, which was extremely more important than now. The position of a king was like that of God and any attempt to usurp his position was regarded as an offence against God and the divine order of thing. This would also have a massive impact; the audience will be left wondering if he will actually commit the murder and if he will be found out. Shakespeare leaves the audience in suspense at the start of act 2 scene 2 by not allowing them to found out if he has done it or not. Lady Macbeth also appears to be scared; "And 'tis not done: the attempt and not the deed Confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers
How does Shakespeare present the contrasting characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Act 2 Scenes 1 and 2
How does Shakespeare present the contrasting characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Act 2 Scenes 1 and 2? Introduction The Macbeth play was written around 1603 by William Shakespeare. During this play, Macbeth and Banquo started off as best friends, after they met the three witches, they gave Macbeth some predictions about his future. Macbeth was delighted whereas his wife, Lady Macbeth becomes power crazed about this. She persuaded him to kill the king, Duncan (in Elizabethan times, it was the biggest crime that can be committed). Afterwards his mind started to play tricks on himself, so he decided to go back and revisit the three witches; they then told him three new prophecies. Others now have suspected that Macbeth killed Duncan, so when Macduff went to England, he decided to kill Lady Macduff and her children. When Macduff came back and heard that his family is all killed he was furious and decided to have his revenge. When he arrived, to kill Macbeth, Macbeth on the other hand thought he cannot be harmed due to one of the prophecy that the witches told him but all at the end Macduff won. During the Elizabethan, all of audience believed in many supernatural things such as, witchcraft, religion, owls etc. In this play, the witches show us that they are creepy and unreliable due to all those set ups for Macbeth. This constructs a feeling for the Elizabethan audience
How Are Macbeth And Lady Macbeth Presented In Act 2 Scene 2? How Could This Be Shown On Stage?
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? In Act 2 Scene 2 Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are presented in various ways throughout the scene. This is because of the tense and anxious nature of the scene. The characters go through a number of changes in feeling through the scene; these changes will be looked at in detail in the main body of the essay. This scene takes place immediately after the murder of Duncan. Meanwhile Lady Macbeth is anxiously wondering whether Macbeth will really do the deed. When he returns, covered in blood and highly strung, she organises how to cover up the murder so that they won't be found out. In this scene we see certain emotions in the characters, which we haven't seen much of so far, or in some cases totally new emotions for a character. ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????
The Impact and Explanation of Act II Scene 2 in Macbeth
The Impact and Explanation of Act II Scene 2 in "Macbeth" Shakespeare writes Macbeth for a Jacobean audience in Jacobean times under the rule of James I. The play Macbeth is a tragedy about the consequences of regicide (the killing of a king) and how it affects the country (in this case Scotland) and those whom committed the murder. So, for this reason, the play deals with the murder itself. We see the murder's consequences immediately after, but, the murder itself happens offstage. Hence, the way that the characters react towards "the deed" is of up-most importance to the way that the play enfolds hereafter. Act II scene 2 involves Macbeth (the murderer) and Lady Macbeth (his wife and co-conspirator) conversing amongst themselves with no other characters onstage. The scene takes place straight after regicide is committed, which is between scenes 1 and 2 of Act II. Shakespeare develops the emotions of fear and guilt in the characters Lady Macbeth and Macbeth to great poetical and plot developing use. For example the poetic effect in, "Shall it be cried 'Sleep no more!'". This language opens up the characters and their personalities to be malleable throughout the remainder of the play. The people in the audience who were first to see Macbeth were Jacobean, and so, the implications in the scene relate to the events of the period. The famous Gunpowder Plot had just passed and
How does Shakespeare portray the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth up to Act 2 Scene 2 in the play?
Macbeth Essay How does Shakespeare portray the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth up to Act 2 Scene 2 in the play? The play of Macbeth was just written because Shakespeare wanted, it was also written to impress King James, Shakespeare wanted to impress the king because when Queen Elizabeth was at the throne she funded for the plays, because she enjoyed them so much. Shakespeare wanted King James to fund his plays now that Elizabeth was gone. To try and convince the king he included in the play of Macbeth witchcraft (the three weird sisters) a subject very close to James' heart. He also tried this by describing Banquo's character in the play as a good person because James believed that he was the ancestor of Banquo. He also impress' the king by portraying Macbeths character to be evil, and making Macbeth a regicide, which King James hates beyond everything else. In the play of Macbeth Shakespeare portrays the character of Macbeth to be an evil, power hungry person, but in fact the real Macbeth was totally different. Macbeth was the king of Scotland for ten years and brought peace there during his reign. In the play Macbeth believes in witchcraft but in real life Macbeth does not, he is a holy man. Even though the play is based on a real character, the character of the real Macbeth does not resemble the character of the Macbeth who stars in the play. The main theme of the
pointers for ioc on Act 3 Scene 2 from Macbeth
Act 3 Scene 2 * This scene opens with Lady Macbeth talking to a Servant, inquiring about Banquo, showing her disturbed state of mind and revealing that Banquo haunts the thought of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. * Then she sends the servant to call for King Macbeth * A very formal relation is depicted between the servant and Lady Macbeth, showing that Lady Macbeth has gained power and is the queen. * It is apparent in this scene that the relations between Macbeth and his Lady are being greatly changed. Lady Macbeth, so far, has been the dominant partner and has spurred her husband on to action. * This was earlier seen in Act 1 Scene 7, where Macbeth did not wish to go 'further in this business', connoting to the murder of King Duncan. But Lady Macbeth, with her strong words, influenced Macbeth to go ahead with the murder. She called him a coward and challenged his existence as a 'man', spurring Macbeth on to action. * It becomes clear to Lady Macbeth that the greatness of the position and power, for which they have killed King Duncan, are bitter and unsatisfying when acquired in the way that they have been. This is brought about in Lady Macbeth's soliloquy, when she says: "Nought's had, all's spent, Where our desire is got without content: 'Tis safer, to be that which we destroy, Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy." * This soliloquy delivered by Lady Macbeth
