Act 2
Original Text |
Modern Text |
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Enter LADY MACBETH
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LADY MACBETH
enters.
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LADY MACBETH That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold.
What hath quenched them hath given me fire.
Hark! Peace! It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman,
Which gives the stern’st good-night. He is about it.
5The doors are open, and the surfeited grooms
Do mock their charge with snores. I have drugged their possets,
That death and nature do contend about them,
Whether they live or die.
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LADY MACBETH The alcohol that got the servants drunk has made me bold. The same
liquor that quenched their thirst has fired me up. Listen! Quiet!
That was the owl that shrieked, with a scary “good
night” like the bells they ring before they execute
people. Macbeth must be killing the king right now. The doors to
Duncan’s chamber are open, and the drunk servants make a
mockery of their jobs by snoring instead of protecting the king. I
put so many drugs in their drinks that you can’t tell if
they’re alive or dead.
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MACBETH
(within) Who’s
there? What, ho!
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MACBETH
(from offstage) Who’s
there? What is it?
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LADY MACBETH Alack, I am afraid they have awaked,
10And ’tis not done. Th' attempt and not the deed
Confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready;
He could not miss 'em. Had he not resembled
My father as he slept, I had done ’t.
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LADY MACBETH Oh no, I’m afraid the servants woke up, and the murder
didn’t happen. For us to attempt murder and not succeed
would ruin us. (She hears a noise.)
Listen to that! I put the servants' daggers where Macbeth
would find them. He couldn’t have missed them. If Duncan
hadn’t reminded me of my father when I saw him sleeping, I
would have killed him myself.
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Enter MACBETH, with bloody daggers
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MACBETH enters carrying bloody
daggers.
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My
husband!
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My husband!
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MACBETH I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?
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MACBETH I have done the deed. Did you hear a noise?
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LADY MACBETH
15I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.
Did not you speak?
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LADY MACBETH I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. Didn’t you
say something?
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MACBETH When?
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MACBETH When?
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More Help
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Character List
CHARACTERS -
Macbeth: Character Analysis
CHARACTERS -
Plot Analysis
MAIN IDEAS -
Is Lady Macbeth a Villain or a Victim?
MAIN IDEAS -
Quotes by Theme
QUOTES -
Themes
MAIN IDEAS -
Review Quiz
FURTHER STUDY
