In a word, the most significant answer to your question is
SUSPENSE. Shakespeare was a dramatist, and like any good dramatist, he knew that one of his
most important tasks was to keep the audience asking, "What happens next?" Suspense is a great
way to achieve the desired result of having the audience on the proverbial edge of their
seats.
The scene in the play that your question refers to is Act II,
scene ii. Let's look at the way that Shakespeare creates suspense here in this scene, including
not showing the actual murder.
For one thing, he includes ominous
noises, or at least the suggestion of noises that are "heard" by the characters onstage. This is
a tried-and-true device of suspense, and, if you're a fan of horror movies, I'm sure you'll find
an exchange similar to the following in most of your favourite
films.
Macbeth
.
. .Didst thou not hear a noise?
Lady
Macbeth
. . .Did not you
speak?
Macbeth
When?
Lady
Macbeth
Now.
Macbeth
As
I descended?
Lady
Macbeth
Aye.
Macbeth
Hark!
Who
lies i'the second chamber?
Lady
Macbeth
Donalbain.
Macbeth
This
is a sorry sight.
This exchange
happens just after Macbeth enters from killing Duncan. Shakespeare has put the focus on the
anticipation of whether they will be caught or not, rather than showing you the gory act
itself.
But, Shakespeare wasn't holding back on the idea of gore.
He knew that his audience loved that too. So, once he has milked the suspense of the act
happening offstage, he moves on to the gore. And that is why, as I have reprinted above, Macbeth
looks at his hands and says, "This is a sorry sight." His hands are covered in blood. In fact,
he, himself, might be covered in blood. An audience that sees all that blood can probably
recreate a much more gruesome murder in their minds than could have been displayed
onstage.
So, the creation of suspense and the horrible imaginary
murder an audience can create in their minds are the two reasons that Shakespeare chose not to
show the murder directly to his audience.
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