Student Essay on Macbeth: Analysis of Act 2 Scene 2

Provides an analysis of Act 2 Scene 2 of the William Shakespeare play, Macbeth. Explores the ways in which Shakespeare creates tension. Compares the ways in which a modern audience would respond to this scene with how Shakespeare's contemporary audience would have responded.

Act 2 Scene 2 is packed with tension. Shakespeare creates this tension in a variety of ways. The first way in which Shakespeare does this is by opening the scene with Lady Macbeth's soliloquy. This is one example of Shakespeare's techniques used to create tension and excitement, for he uses many other dramatic devices and dialogue.

Lady Macbeth's opening soliloquy creates attention as the audience see her alone, pacing up and down in a nervous but excited state, awaiting Macbeth's return which increases the tension dramatically. We can see the different side to Lady Macbeth's character at this moment as she appears to be more vulnerable. As she waits she decides she heard an owl shriek and she takes that as a good omen, because the screech owl is nature's own 'fatal bellman´. A 'fatal bellman´ would.....