Macbeth Group

Question:

larac0290
larac0290
Student
High School - 11th Grade

In Act 2, Scene 2 of "Macbeth," why does Duncan's murder not take place on stage?

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Posted by larac0290 on Monday March 3, 2008 at 6:20 PM and tagged with act 2 scene 2, characters, duncans murder, macbeth, setting.

Answers:


  1. amy-lepore Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Typically when scenes are described as gory and violent, scary, or otherwise emotional and up to the reader's interpretation, the scene takes place off stage.  The reason for this is that each of us has the opportunity to imagine the scene as it would be most gory, violent, scary, etc. for us--what is scary to me may not scare you, and so on.  Therefore, we are all  guaranteed to be disgusted, scared, or whatever other emotion would be appropriate for the event.  In this way, the playwright has given the gift of the ultimate experience for each of his audience members as he has allowed us to scare (or disgust)  ourselves for the full effect.

     

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/macbeth/

    Rate answer:

    Posted by amy-lepore on Monday March 3, 2008 at 7:36 PM