How Does Shakespeare Use Stage Directions In Macbeth

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Shakespeare’s use of structural choices like stage directions and setting creates the effect of mystery, tension, and surprise throughout the first two acts of the play. In The Tragedy of Macbeth, Shakespeare uses such structural choices to create the mood, or in other words, the atmosphere of the play. The main character, Macbeth is the thane of Glamis, and when he wins a battle against a nobleman, he gets presented with the title as the “Thane of Cawdor. However, Macbeth lusts for more power, and thus, with the motivation from his wife, he establishes a plan to king of Scotland. Throughout the text, Shakespeare uses structural choices like the setting, and stage direction to generate the moods of mystery, tension and surprise that eventually comes from the plan.

The play begins with three witches planning to meet Macbeth under thunder and lightning. “When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain” (1.1.1-2). They decide to meet Macbeth after the battle is over, upon the heath, and through the “fog and filthy air” (1.1.13). Then this continues later when the witches do meet Macbeth and Banquo to tell them about the ir fortune and the future (1.3). They notify how Macbeth will be the king, whereas Banquo won’t, but …show more content…

In the beginning Macbeth was considered as a brave, heroic character who won the battle against the traitor (former Thane of Cawdor). However, he becomes greedy for more power, and thus with his wife, he plans to get rid of the “obstacle”, otherwise known as King Duncan. So when King Duncan visits his castle , Macbeth kills him in his sleep, and stages it as if the guards were the suspects. Shakespeare uses stage direction and setting to create the moods of the play, like mystery, tension and surprise as Macbeth and his wife continue to go ahead on with their

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