Dramatic tension in Macbeth Shakespeare's play "Macbeth" is set in Scotland during the reign of King Duncan. Macbeth struggled to rise through the ranks of the army to become one of Duncan's most trusted lords. An encounter with three witches puts evil in the heart of an otherwise noble and loyal Macbeth. Shakespeare's brilliant use of dramatic irony, the supernatural, and indecision produces dramatic tension that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats throughout the play. In act 1, scene 1, we are faced with a scene of three witches. This alone would have created mystery and fear among the audience, setting the scene for the show to come. “Macbeth” was written during a time when there was great interest in witchcraft and the supernatural. People were confused and scared of the supernatural, so the sight of three witches would tell the audience that the show would be full of evil and lies. This scene is a short opening of the play. It's long enough to arouse curiosity, but not to satisfy it. The atmosphere of the work is fixed, even if the action and the introduction of the main characters only begin in the next scene. In Act 1, Scene 2, we learn about the hard battle that Macbeth and Banquo fought, and they win the victory for Scotland. Duncun rewards Macbeth for his courage by giving him the title "lord of Cawdor", "...with his former title he hails Macbeth." Let us not forget that a "very disloyal traitor" first held this title. This scene tells us that Macbeth is considered a brave and valiant man because he killed so many people and won the battle almost single-handedly. The language used is quite horrific and the deaths of Macbeth's victims are explained in all its gory detail. The... center of the card... gers. He then prepares them for Macbeth. She would have killed Duncan herself if he hadn't looked like her father. Macbeth returns after killing Duncan. Shakespeare's use of language and structure manages to create tension leading up to the murder of King Duncan. He manages to build it gradually and then release it a little, and then increase it until finally the act of regicide occurs. His use of dramatic irony, the supernatural, and indecisiveness combine to keep the audience on the edge of their seats during these scenes. His use of the right language in the right places helps the characters and the work become truly believable. Throughout the work, the supernatural plays an important role. A wise choice on Shakespeare's part at the time and one that still works today. Works Cited: Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1977.