Atmosphere in act 2 of Macbeth

Language and imagery in Macbeth are key aspects in the process of constructing a certain atmosphere. The use of imagery can manipulate the whole tone of a piece. Macbeth is an excellent example of this.

In the beginning of act 2 it is made evident events are taking place at night, which has gothic implications of its own.  A little later Macbeth has a large soliloquy, by which he bares a tortured mind in the strain of pre murder ‘’nature seems dead and wicked dreams taunt the curtained sleep’’. A soliloquy in itself appears gothic as it depicts the darkest recesses of a being’s mind; a place thought to be sacred but in gothic plays such as Macbeth, the characters thoughts are laid bare for an audience of people to hear; events of impossibility in reality. The soliloquy consists of Macbeth’s procrastination as he thinks of the repercussions of murder.  All this relates to a dark atmosphere with murder a main theme; consistent with the gothic Macbeth.

Some imagery used, depicts grotesque scenes of animals, shortly after and during the murder of Duncan. ‘’i heard the owl’s shriek and the crickets cry’’, dialog used by lady Macbeth could represent the disorder caused in nature through the severity of Macbeth’s bloody deed. Even the most remote beings, such as animals are stirring as an outcry to Duncan’s murder, representing the sheer severity of the act. As is the case of an old man claiming horses became mad in their paddocks and ate each other.  Such a horrifying image again relates to the severity of Macbeth’s doings, demonstrating how nature has been turned on its head.

During the murder when Macbeth is out of sight lady Macbeth appears fearful. In doing this she seems to regain of her femininity; in stark contrast to her predominantly masculine embodiments. However, in the next scene Macbeth appears to become the dominated character again as he cannot return to the sight of the murder to plant the daggers needed in order to frame the guards. Lady Macbeth then takes on this role resuming her place as the dominant character.  The way Lady Macbeth addresses him after the murder appears very emotionally detached, as she concerns herself more with the smooth run of their plot. ‘’Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead are but pictures. ‘Tis the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil...’’ this represents a much more proficient atmosphere than one embellished with emotion; some may argue emotional release is how one would conduct having just committed murder.

Macbeth describes the reaction of the guards whilst he laid in wait to murder them also, ‘’there’s ones did laugh in one’s sleep and one cried murder’’. This quotation demonstrates the monstrosity of the murder as the imagery switches from vast contrasts of laughter- connoting happiness, to murder.  A joyous activity such as laughing is overshadowed by the dark theme of murder, denying the catharsis of happy emotion.  A swift change in atmosphere that is consistent throughout the play such as the hypocritical atmosphere portrayed by Lord and Lady Macbeth under their plot to kill Duncan: despite appearing to be courteous hosts.

  In act 2 Macbeth describes with great passion the bliss of sleep ‘’Balm of hurt minds’’. He then exclaims how he shall sleep no more. This illustrates the great depth of his guilt; in killing Duncan he has robbed himself of this essential thing in life that applies to all men. The portrayal of Macbeth’s decent into despair presents in itself, an extremely foreboding atmosphere- again correlating to the fall of a hero in act 2 of Shakespearean literature.

‘’Will all of Neptune’s ocean wash this blood from my hand?’’ this imagery expresses Macbeth’s outcry.  The use of such an extensive metaphor depicts his guilt ‘’all of Neptune’s ocean’’ Nothing can reduce the guilt he is feeling by way of what he feel was such an extensive act of cruelty.

Reading journal A2

In act 2 the undoing of the heroic admired Macbeth begins an idiosyncrasy often consistent in Shakespearean plays. Macbeth finally kills Duncan on the recommendation of his wife Lady Macbeth in order to become king as predicted by the witches. Despite committing the murders himself, Macbeth shows an undying conscious as he is too disturbed to go back in to plant the daggers on the guards. The whole murder in itself seems subject of botchery; Macbeth killed the king and his guards but forgot the vital parts of the plan. In the end Lady Macbeth becomes the dominant character yet again as she returns to the chamber of murdered Duncan and plants the daggers.

The great Macduff arrives at the castle and is greeted by a drunken porter. It appears the porter has inside knowledge ‘’this place is too cold for hell’’. He constantly speaks of hell and all manner of dark things of his surroundings. Although the function of the drunken porter is often thought to be a comic release, things suggest he may have a deeper meaning. His position in itself as a porter, paired with his recognition of hell in the castle could be construed to be him keeper of the gates of hell.

Lord and Lady Macbeth put on a rouse as King Duncan is discovered dead in his chamber, as in the plan the guards are suspect of the murder. Macbeth claims he killed the guards on discovering them in a position that suggested they had committed the murder; perhaps in a last ditch attempt to claim some heroisms. On hearing of their father’s death Duncan’s sons make hast and flee from the scene which as stated later shifts the suspicion unto them.

Macbeth- Reading journal A1

Act one of Macbeth introduces several characters and the gothic nature of the play. Macbeth is a well respected thane who is reported to have defeated allied forces against King Duncan. On his return he and Banquo are met by three witches who foresee Macbeth as king declaring ‘’all hail Macbeth...Thane of Cawdor, thane of Glamis....he shall be king there after’’.  Macbeth is later declared thane of Cawdor thus proving one of the witches’ predictions. Enthralled by this Macbeth begins to have dark thoughts of how he could precede current king, Duncan. As the audience are introduced to Lady Macbeth it becomes clear she has a similar agenda. It is soon announced King Duncan has arrived at Macbeth’s quarters, both Lord and Lady Macbeth see opportunity. However she fears her husband is too compassionate to commit such an act ‘’the milk of human kindness’’. To ensure success of Duncan’s murder she manipulates her husband by insulting his masculinity, eventually ridding him of any second thoughts he had about murdering the king.

Gothic themes of Macbeth

The gothic theme of Macbeth is apparent from the very beginning of the play as the first act itself embodies several conventions of gothic literature-

*The three witches are of obvious gothic origin. Supernatural elements such as witches are often depicted in gothic literature.  The concept of witches holds connotations of evil in itself correlating to tradition. In addition to this they could be held responsible for the undoing of the greatly respected Macbeth; in planting the idea of power in his head, and in doing so playing a part in King Duncan’s death.

*The introduction to the witches demonstrates the first use of pathetic fallacy in the play. Upon the witches’ entrance thunder and lightning are illustrated. Along with thunder and lightning being typical of a gothic piece, the negative connotations correlate to the presence of the witches.

*Death is a theme introduced to the play very early. A captain is depicted as dying from bloody wounds which also relates to the convention of gore in gothic. In addition Cawdor is executed, the sever theme of death so early on makes obvious the gothic agenda.

*Women characters in gothic literature are often branded as evil despite they’re delicate appearance. This is another factor of Macbeth that sticks to convention; Lady Macbeth appears to breed corruption into Macbeth, in convincing and manipulating him into the eventual act of murder. The dialog used by Lady Macbeth is grotesque and supposedly uncommon of society. As a woman, she would typically be delicate and in touch with her emotions, perhaps motherly. But as a gothic woman she appears manipulative and cold in nature. Such language is used to manipulate Macbeth into the murder ‘’I would while it was smiling in face, have plucked my nipple from its boneless gums, and bashed the brains out had I so sworn as you have done to this. She appears cold and void of any human compassion a typical archetype of the gothic woman.