Macbeth

Macbeth Act two scene 1 How would you represent the dagger on stage? Should it be visible to the audience? Why, why not?

Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?
I see thee yet, in form as palpable
As this which now I draw.
Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going;
And such an instrument I was to use.
Mine eyes are made the fools o' the other senses,
Or else worth all the rest
; I see thee still,

And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood,
Which was not so before. There's no such thing:

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Last updated by Aslan
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I suppose it all depends on how much money you have and your artistic intent. I have seen many productions with no dagger. The actor must make the audience believe he sees one. I have seen a dagger lowered from the rafters: that was kind of funny. I have also seen a projection used. I personally liked the dagger from the rafters! There is a bit of comic relief in a very tense situation. Professional productions usually use no dagger.