Macbeth Scene 2 act 2

Shakespeare uses sound effects both on and offstage to create dramatic tension. He uses sound effects such as the crickets and the owl that were seen as symbols of death. Shakespeare also uses the killing of King Duncan to create dramatic tension to the audience. This is because the audience believed that the King was on the throne by divine right and killing the King would have been seen as committing the ultimate sin. Shakespeare uses jerky phrases and short phrases to create anxiety in both characters and the audience. Shortly after Macbeth murders the King a lot of tension exists on between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. This is shown by phrases such as “who’s there? What ho?” to show that Macbeth was alert and was afraid someone would discover their plan. Shakespeare also shows dramatic tension by the way Macbeth frequently changes the subject and in some cases he does not answer the question. A lot of tension is also shown by the quick exchange of question and answers by Macbeth and Lady Macbeth this also proves that Macbeth was still alert and might have been in a state of shock. Macbeth continuously uses the word ‘hark’ which means ‘to listen’. This also shows that even though he was in a conversation with Lady Macbeth he was waiting to hear any suspicious noises, this also shows that the atmosphere was tense in the scene.

What happens is so important in the play because it shows the immediate reactions of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth when the murder is carried out. Lady Macbeth starts the scene with an attitude that she has gained strength because of their plan. But shortly after that she shows a sign of weakness, this is shown when she says “had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done’t”. This is a sign of weakness because she admits she could not have carried out the murder because King Duncan resembled her father as he slept. Later in the scene she returns the daggers to the scene of their crime.

After the murder Macbeth starts to realise that what he has done is a terrible sin for which he can not be forgiven. Macbeth starts showing signs of cowardice and he claims he cannot say the word amen or sleep ever again because of what he has done. This is shown when he uses the phrase “this is a sorry sight” and Lady Macbeth answers him by saying “a foolish thought to say a sorry sight”. This shows that Lady Macbeth feels no sympathy at first but after a while she changes her mood when she realises how it has affected him and she tries to calm him by using phrases such as “these deeds must not be thought of” and “consider it not so deeply”. The audience see what is happening to Macbeth as a form of punishment for what he has done. The audience would also feel that because of the way Macbeth regrets his wife might have been the force behind him committing the murder. This is mainly because Lady Macbeth does not show any signs of regret for what they have done.

The battle of good and evil in the scene is happening in Macbeth mind. He starts having thoughts about what he has done and he starts realising that he has done a bad deed. This is shown when he uses the phrase “I am afraid to think what I have done”. Not only does he realise this but he now knows that he can no longer sleep peacefully and pronounce the word Amen. This is shown when he uses the phrase “Glamis hath murder’d sleep and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more”. This is seen by the audience as a form of punishment for what he has done. This would be important to an Elizabethan audience because it was one of their beliefs that if a person does something evil they shall be punished or shall face the consequences.

Shakespeare changes the course of events very well because the play starts by showing Macbeth off as a good and loyal official of the King who is rewarded for his bravery with two different titles first Thane of Cawdor and Thane of Glamis. He changes the events by showing Macbeth turning into an evil person and being led by his ambition and wife to kill the King in order to take over the throne. The pace and tone of this scene increases the dramatic tension. This is mainly shown by the waiting for Macbeth to appear and the boldness of Lady Macbeth in refusing to acknowledge Macbeth’s fear and regret. The speed at which they both speak when Macbeth nervously arrives in the courtyard following the murder to create dramatic tension. He also uses the imagery used in the language to express in detail the blood on Macbeth’s hands. Act 2 scene 2 has an effect on the audience who now prepare for Lady Macbeth and Macbeth to be defeated because they have become evil and evil must not prevail over good.