Question

What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?" How does this passage add tension to the play?

Answer 1

The quoted passage highlights the tension in the play by showing Lady Macbeth's guilt and paranoia, contrasting her past confidence with her present fear of the consequences of her actions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The passage "What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?" significantly adds tension to the play. It illustrates the guilt and paranoia that haunts one of the main characters - Lady Macbeth, and emphasizes the horrifying realization that their murderous actions cannot be undone. This blood imagery starkly contrasts with Lady Macbeth's earlier confidence, showing her mental deterioration and foreshadowing the ultimate downfall that comes from their unchecked ambition and the resulting dire consequences.