Act 2 Scene 2
The Murder of
Duncan
The Owl
The owl Lady Macbeth hears in
the opening of the play is a
symbol of night time and
wisdom, but also an omen of
tragedy, seen as “death’s
messenger”. This creates a
suspenseful, tense atmosphere
as creepy, almost supernatural
elements show the
consequences of Duncan’s
murder
Stichomythia
In this scene, the conversations
between Macbeth and Lady
Macbeth alternate rapidly to
increase pace and tension. Lines
13-24 show their fear after the
murder has occurred, as they try
to cover their tracks
Amen, amen
Macbeth’s inability to say
“amen”, which he rapidly
becomes obsessed with, is a
religious allusion used to display
his guilt after committing
regicide, as he believes he will
never be absolved of this sin.
Ghosts?
Macbeth hears a voice cry out
and condemn him,
foreshadowing how he is slowly
going mad. It also creates an
effect of paranormal activity
around the castle, creating a
creepy, spooky atmosphere and
putting the audience on edge.
Emasculating
wife
Lady Macbeth clearly holds the
ropes in their relationship, as she
scoffs at him for his childish
behaviour, calling his guilt and
fear “the eye of childhood” and
emasculating him for being
unable to return to the scene of
his crime. Instead, she goes
herself, to smear the guards with
blood and implicate them.
Knock knock
The scene closes with a reptitive
knock interrupting Lady
Macbeth and Macbeth’s
conversation. This knock is
ominous, creating the illusion of
ghostly hallucinations and the
supernatural feeling, and
heightens the tension, as it
seems as though they are about
to be caught
