Page 17 - Macbeth Modern Translation

Macbeth Modern Translation: Act 1, Scene 7

The trouble was that we have choice: we have freedom of choice. But if we
choose violent options they come back to plague us. And it was that law,
that even-handed justice, that was the problem. When we poison others we
poison ourselves.

Duncan. Macbeth sighed. What was he to do?

The King trusted him completely. For two very good reasons: first as Macbeth
was his cousin and his subject -both very powerful arguments against murder
– and then as he was Duncan’s host, who should shut the door against his
murderer, not bear the knife himself!

Macbeth walked slowly down the stairs and back into the courtyard. And
anyway, Duncan was so gentle as a man, and so strong as a king, that his
virtues would cry out for revenge at the brutality of his death. There would be
outrage at the slaughter of such a good man: everyone would be so filled
with pity that the whole nation would grieve.

No, there was no excuse – only vaulting ambition, which threatened to
overreach itself and bring him crashing down.

A dim light fell across the courtyard. It was his wife, coming from the great
hall.

‘Hello,’ he said. ‘What’s the matter?’

She came across to him. ‘He’s almost finished eating,’ she whispered. ‘Why
have you left the banquet?’

‘Has he asked for me?’

‘Of course he has!’

‘We won’t go any further with this business. He’s honoured me lately.’
Macbeth’s voice was almost pleading. ‘And I’ve earned golden opinions

from all sorts of people. I want to enjoy them like new clothes – not cast them
aside so soon.’

‘Were you drunk when you dreamt of wearing a king’s robes?’ she said. And
has that dream slept since then, waking now, sick and trembling at what you
wanted to do?’ She snapped her fingers. ‘From now on, that’s how much I
value your love.’

When he didn’t say anything she took his arm and shook it.

‘Are you afraid to be the same in your actions as you are in your desire? Do
you want to spend the rest of your life longing for a crown, knowing that

you’re nothing more than a coward, letting ‘I don’t dare’ answer ‘I want’?
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