Macbeth Analysis Scene 2 Act 2

Macbeth Analyse- 2.a How does Shakespeare make the extract below from Act 2 Scene 2 dramatic and interesting?
“Quenched them, hath given me fire.” Shakespeare’s using opposites and oxymoronic use of language (paradox) therefore making a contrast of Lady Macbeth’s phrase. He has also showed a comparison of guilt between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth because Lady Macbeth obviously shows that she is not guilty for what she has done but Macbeth does. Again, Shakespeare uses oxymoronic use of language for when Lady Macbeth is speaking; “live, or die,” and he also makes the last words dramatic, adding tension and seriousness towards what Lady Macbeth is saying.
Another way to make the scene interesting and dramatic is adding conflict. Shakespeare does this when Lady Macbeth is saying how she can’t kill Duncan: “Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done’t.” Lady Macbeth is in conflict with herself because she wants to kill Duncan herself but she can’t because he looks too much like her father, meaning that she has a sentimental heart.
Shakespeare uses changes in language in this extract because with the arrival of Macbeth and him holding the bloody daggers, the syntax breaks down suggesting confusion and panic.
The theme of Macbeth is death, betrayal and things of that sort. The line “live, or die,” (what Lady Macbeth says) supports the fact that death is a theme of the story and this scene. Also when Lady Macbeth says: “that which hath made them drunk,” She orally reminds us of her association with the witches in the heath by using the homonym “which”. When Lady Macbeth says: “The fatal bellman which gives the stern’st good-night,” Shakespeare is trying to make us realise that when you are asleep you appear to be dead – you look dead – but Duncan will never wake up, because he is actually dead. Shakespeare uses objective correlative use of language when he writes, “it was the owl that shrieked,” because owls are nocturnal animals and are associated with darkness and full moons and things of that sort. And all these things suggest evil and mysteriousness.
Action is also a way Shakespeare makes the scene seem interesting and dramatic. An example is: “I have done the deed.” Macbeth is telling Lady Macbeth that he has killed Duncan and Shakespeare has made his phrase mono-syllabic, making every word have an impact on what Macbeth has done.
To make the scene more interesting and dramatic Shakespeare has showed Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relationship in different ways. For example, “Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done’t,” this shows that Lady Macbeth has a soft side and that she didn’t have the courage to kill Duncan because he resembled her father. So this is linking with her relationship with Duncan and Macbeth because she wanted to kill Duncan but she couldn’t because of the resemblance and it shows she is not as powerful in her relationship with Macbeth. “Hark! I laid their daggers ready; he could not miss ‘em,” also shows she carefully planned the plot showing she is in control of her relationship with Macbeth. And she also manipulated and controlled Macbeth into killing Duncan because she physically wasn’t able to; showing her power over Macbeth and their relationship. Also keep in mind that she doesn’t even have Macbeth’s best interests at heart. Shakespeare is uses pretence, “I am afraid they have awaked...My husband?” meaning Lady Macbeth knows inside that she is scared but she always gives off the impression that she is evil so maybe she is not as powerful as she thinks she is concerning her relationship with Macbeth. She also shows she wants comfort from Macbeth which shows the closeness of their relationship and her vulnerability. “I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. Did you not speak,” this is an example of how Shakespeare uses questions to make the scene more interesting because Lady Macbeth sounds panicked and she uses alliteration to add more drama to what she’s saying.