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Macbeth - Soliloquy Analysis
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Macbeth - Soliloquy Analysis
The opposition of light and dark as symbols for life and death is the foundation upon which much of Shakesphere's Macbeth is built. In Act V Scene V of Macbeth, strong words covey all of these thoughts to the reader. The tone for Macbeth's speech is immediately set after hearing of the death of Lady Macbeth. Having lost his queen, and seeing his hopes turn to ashes, the bitter Macbeth now comments on life in caustic words. "Tomorrow creeps in this petty pace." The basic feel of this brings a negative connotation to tomorrow. Iit keeps coming slowly and slyly as if to attack. What exactly does this petty pace refer to? It is the progression of life, as Macbeth now sees it. This negative and dark imagery continues to grow because tomorrow is unrelenting. "[T]ommorow creeps...To the last syllable of recorded time." With these dreary remarks Macbeth presents his hopeless outlook. He feels the only way to end the pain of life is through death. "And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death." What can be taken from this is that from our earliest recollection, we are constantly being guided forward from yesterday to our death. If light is life, then the light just leads us to death. When these lines are read together it enables the reader to see the despair and agony Macbeth is now suffering. The past is pushing him ahead and the future is creeping in on him. He has nowhere in time or space to escape. Death is the only place left to g...
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