AboutArlene Schulman Expertise A professional stage director and dramaturg, I`m familiar with many plays of various types. I am particularly familiar with the plays of such playwrights as Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams and Neil Simon, and the musicals of Rodgers & Hammerstein, Sondheim, Jerry Herman and many other musicals, particularly those if the "Golden Age" before 1975. I am experienced in both staging and acting in comedy, drama and musicals, and can give you historical and staging information for most plays.
Experience A professional stage director and dramaturg for over 25 years in the NYC/NJ area, I have directed and acted in over a hundred plays and musicals of all kinds. I have a huge theatre library and access to info on just about any play or musical, both historically and for staging purposes.
Question I am reading Macbeth and on Act 2 scene 2.
Could you pharaphrase these lines for me so I can understand them?
Lady Macbeth: Had he not resembled
My father as he slept, I had done't.
Enter MACBETH
My husband!
MACBETH
I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?
LADY MACBETH
I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.
Did not you speak?
MACBETH
When?
LADY MACBETH
Now.
MACBETH
As I descended?
LADY MACBETH
Ay.
MACBETH
Hark!
Who lies i' the second chamber?
LADY MACBETH
Donalbain.
MACBETH
This is a sorry sight.
Looking on his hands
LADY MACBETH
A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.
MACBETH
There's one did laugh in's sleep, and one cried
'Murder!'
That they did wake each other: I stood and heard them:
But they did say their prayers, and address'd them
Again to sleep.
LADY MACBETH
There are two lodged together.
MACBETH
One cried 'God bless us!' and 'Amen' the other;
As they had seen me with these hangman's hands.
Listening their fear, I could not say 'Amen,'
When they did say 'God bless us!'
LADY MACBETH
Consider it not so deeply.
MACBETH
But wherefore could not I pronounce 'Amen'?
I had most need of blessing, and 'Amen'
Stuck in my throat.
LADY MACBETH
These deeds must not be thought
After these ways; so, it will make us mad.
MACBETH
Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more!
Macbeth does murder sleep', the innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleeve of care,
The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
Chief nourisher in life's feast,--
LADY MACBETH
What do you mean?
MACBETH
Still it cried 'Sleep no more!' to all the house:
'Glamis hath murder'd sleep, and therefore Cawdor
Shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more.'
LADY MACBETH
Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane,
You do unbend your noble strength, to think
So brainsickly of things. Go get some water,
And wash this filthy witness from your hand.
Why did you bring these daggers from the place?
They must lie there: go carry them; and smear
The sleepy grooms with blood.
MACBETH
I'll go no more:
I am afraid to think what I have done;
Look on't again I dare not.
LADY MACBETH
Infirm of purpose!
Give me the daggers: the sleeping and the dead
Are but as pictures: 'tis the eye of childhood
That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed,
I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal;
For it must seem their guilt.
Answer Hi Ava,
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. My daughter was giving birth to my new grandson and I had to go out of state to help her.
If you would like "translations" or modern paraphrasing of any of Shakespeare's plays, check out No Fear Shakespeare at:
This is the scene when Macbeth has returned from killing Duncan and tells her of the murder. She tells him to wash the blood off his hands, then, realizing that he is still carrying the bloody dagger, she urges him to go back and leave it with Duncan's grooms, smearing them with blood so they will be blamed for his murder. Macbeth is too traumatized to do that, so she volunteers to do it herself.
