Final answer:
Lady Macbeth wiping blood on the guards after Macbeth's refusal to frame them creates tension about whether they can stick to their plan, reflecting themes of guilt and manipulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding the Order of Events in Macbeth
The question involves analyzing the dramatic effects created by the sequence of events surrounding Duncan's murder in Shakespeare's play Macbeth. In the scene, Lady Macbeth wipes blood on Duncan's guards after Macbeth refuses to return to the king's room to frame the guards. This particular order of events creates tension about whether Macbeth can stick to their plan of making the guards appear guilty of Duncan's murder. This tension is a result of Macbeth's emotional instability and inability to complete the violent act's cover-up, which forces Lady Macbeth to step in and control the situation.
By directly involving themselves in altering the crime scene, Lady Macbeth's actions ensure that suspicion is cast upon the guards. This manipulation not only implicates them but also heightens the sense of guilt and paranoia that Macbeth experiences - a central theme in the play.