How does Shakespeare build tension in act 3, scene 6 of Macbeth?

In
act 3, scene 6, of ,
Lennox, a Scottish thane, is meeting with an unnamed
rebel lord.

The scene occurs directly after a scene withand , in which Hecate

tells the witches that she has "great business" planned forthat will confuse him
and
cause him to "spurn fate, scorn death, and bear / His hopes bove wisdom,
grace, and
fear" (3.5.30€“31).

Tensions are rising, and
the audience is already
wondering what Hecate and the witches are going to do
to Macbeth when the scene with Lennox and
the lord begins.

The tension increases because a question arises in the scene
as to
whether Lennox, and others like him, will remain loyal to Macbeth or joinand 's son, ,
in
rebellion.

The scene opens seemingly in the middle of
the conversation
between Lennox and the lord, with Lennox reiterating all
that has happened so far in the play
related to Macbeth's acquisition of the
throne. Lennox remarks, "Things have been strangely
borne" (3.6.3).

During his lengthy speech, Lennox seems to support
Macbeth and gives
him benefit of the doubt regarding the events surrounding all of the deaths

that have swirled around him.

LENNOX. ...So that,
I
say,
He has borne all things well. (3.6.16€“17)

Interesting, however, is how Lennox refers to
Macbeth at the end of his
speech.

LENNOX. ...For from broad words, and cause he
fail'd
His
presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear,
Macduff lives in

disgrace.

Lennox refers to Macbeth as
a
"tyrant," which is not a word that a nobleman like Lennox would use if he
truly
thought well of his king.

The lord echoes Lennox's
sentiments toward Macbeth
when he tells Lennox what is happening in
England.

LORD.
The son of Duncan
[Malcolm],
From whom this tyrant holds the due of
birth, />Lives in the English court and is received
Of the most pious
Edward...
(3.6.25€“27)

The lord
accuses the tyrant, Macbeth, of
usurping the throne and tells Lennox that
Macduff has gone to England to enlist the aid of
saintly King Edward in their
rebellion against Macbeth. The Lord says that Macbeth has heard
about
Macduff's defection and Malcolm's solicitation of King Edward in the name of the
rebels'
cause, and Macbeth is preparing for war.

Lennox
makes up his mind to join the
rebels and makes his thoughts about Macbeth
perfectly clear.

LENNOX. Some holy
angel
Fly to the court of England and unfold
His

message ere he come, that a swift blessing
May soon return to this our
suffering
country
Under a hand accursed! (3.6.48€“52)

Now
that Lennox has made his decision, the
tension is released momentarily, but it rises again
almost immediately with
the reappearance of the witches in the next scene.