Shakespeare's Macbeth: Act V, scene v
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death.
Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
This famous soliloquy is spoken by Macbeth after receiving news of his wife's death. Macbeth seems unmoved as he contemplates the brevity and meaningless of life. This idea can be found in the biblical book of Ecclesiates (1:2). Life is short compared time, which is infinite. This can be compared to verses 3-4. One may live life "strutting and fretting" or "full of sound and fury," or even wise or foolish as Ecclesiastes puts it. However in there end, "the same fate overtakes them both" (Ecc. 2:14 NIV). Though life may be short and meaningless according to Ecclesiastes, we are called to remember our creator (12:1) and be content with the life given to us (3:12-13). It is the fear of the Lord that matters.
- Samara Coelho
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