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Essay / Analysis of Act 2, Scene 2 of Macbeth - 1515
The scene I chose was Act 2, Scene 2 of Macbeth written by Shakespeare. It was between two characters, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. I played the role of Macbeth. In the scene, Lady Macbeth celebrates the success of her plan. Lady Macbeth is waiting for Macbeth to come and tell her that he has killed Duncan. Macbeth announces that he has committed the murder but is so afraid that he brings the bloody daggers with him and Lady Macbeth takes them from him to place with the sleeping guards. Macbeth hears blows which frighten him so his wife comes to take him away, they then wash the blood from their hands before being caught. My character was challenging because I had to understand his emotions and find ways to interpret them on stage. I chose to perform this act because Shakespeare was able to create tension, create the perfect atmosphere to show them Macbeth's reaction to Duncan's murder, but also show the relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. Shakespeare's use of imagery, dramatic irony, and rhetorical questions helped emphasize the guilt Macbeth felt after the murder. In Act 2 Scene 2, Macbeth feels guilty about the act of murder plotted by Lady Macbeth. His feelings were compounded by the fact that Lady Macbeth felt no remorse for the act of murder and instead asked him to wash his hands as a symbol of washing away the guilt. Shakespeare wanted the audience to see Macbeth's sense of guilt and regret. Macbeth mentions that Shakespeare is using an allusion to Roman mythology here, which discourages Macbeth. This scene establishes Macbeth's guilt and sense of remorse. Shakespeare uses hyperbole to create emotions. He describes the amount of guilt Macbeth feels by saying that all the water in the world couldn't wash away the middle of the paper and find them. Macbeth says: When I said these lines, I felt the audience was drawn in then, I said it with so much pain in my eyes and anger. Macbeth is worried because he can't say "amen" and Lady Macbeth is disappointed and nervous because Macbeth is saying things she doesn't want to hear. She says she is frustrated by her husband's cowardice. When my partner said these lines, I reacted with shock and fear to show how scared I was. Overall, my partner and I were able to put in a good performance. I was able to express what Macbeth felt to the audience. I think the way I played helped the audience get an idea of what was going on. I was able to convey my emotions through my body language and the way I approached the lines. Playing Macbeth was an interesting experience. Playing this scene helped me discover the characters' personalities.