Macbeth

If it would be over once the deed is done, then it would be best to do it quickly. If the murder could somehow gather up and control its own consequences, and Duncan’s death would grant me the success I look for, then right now I would risk whatever happens to me in the afterlife. But for deeds like these, there are repercussions here in this life. We set an example by our bloody deeds, and that teaches others to do the same to us. This type of justice would have us drink our own poison.

The king trusts me in two ways. First, I am his relative and his subject – two good reasons not to do the deed. Secondly, I am his host and should protect him against murderers, not wield the murderer’s knife myself. Besides, Duncan has handled his royal responsibilities so humbly and ethically that his virtues would plead like angels blowing trumpets against his murder. Pity, like baby angels riding the blasts from the angels’ trumpet, will blow the vision of the horrid murder into everyone’s eyes. Everyone will weep so much that they will drown the wind in tears. My only motivation is the kind of soaring ambition which can easily miss its jump and land improperly…

What is it? What’s going on?

Lady Macbeth

He’s almost started dinner. Why did you leave the dining room?

Macbeth

Did he ask for me?

Lady Macbeth

Don’t you know he did?

Macbeth

We’ll go no further with this business. He has given me a lot of honors recently, and all sorts of people have high opinions of me. I should be bathing in this glow now instead of throwing it away so soon.

Lady Macbeth

Was it drunken confidence you felt earlier?  Did this drunken confidence sleep it off and does it now feel hungover and sick thinking back on what it eagerly said before? From now on this is how I’ll measure your love to me. Are you afraid to act as brave as you talk? Are you going to want the crown more than anything else in life but live considering yourself a coward, letting that voice which says, “I dare not” overrule the voice that says, “I will do it”? Are you like the proverbial cat that wants the fish but is afraid to get her feet wet?

Macbeth

Please, stop it!  I am willing to do everything fitting for a man. Anyone who dares to do more is not a man.

Lady Macbeth

Then what kind of animal were you when told me about this plan? When you dare to do it, then you will be a man. And by becoming more than what you are, you will be so much more of a man! Then, when you made these plans, the time and place weren’t yet right, but you would have made them work. Now, when they’ve fallen into place by themselves, you’ve lost your nerve by being provided with the perfect situation. I have nursed a child, so I know how it feels to love the baby who drinks my milk. I would take that baby while it was smiling at me, pull my nipple out of its mouth, and smash its brains out, if I had sworn to kill it as you have sworn to do this deed.

Macbeth

And if we fail?

Lady Macbeth

If we fail! You need to resolve to be courageous, then we won’t fail. When Duncan is soundly asleep –  which should be soon after his hard day’s journey – I’ll get his two servants so drunk with wine and toasting that their minds will be in a fog. Their memories will turn to vapor and their reasoning brains will lose control.  When they’re drunk as pigs, and dead to the world, we can do whatever we want to the defenseless Duncan. What can’t we blame on his drunk servants, who will take the blame for the murder?

Macbeth

You should only have sons so that your fearless genes would only be passed along to male offspring. Once we’ve used the sleeping servants’ daggers for the murder and smeared them with Duncan’s blood, won’t everyone assume they’ve done it?

Lady Macbeth

Who would dare interpret it otherwise? Especially after we have expressed our grief and shock so loudly upon hearing of his death?

Macbeth

I’ve decided. I’ll give it everything I’ve got to see this terrible thing through. Let’s go, and let’s put on a pleasant show. Our lying faces must hide what our lying hearts are about to do.