Macbeth Final Soliloquy - 828 Words

Man s natural ambition is to thrive and achieve power. This ambition tends to be realized through wealth, relationships, social class, or faith. Ultimately, the goal to succeed is simply reflective of the underlying desire to justify one s existence. Without justification, life becomes meaningless and one becomes numb to the world that surrounds. This numbness is what depresses humans of essential emotions and commonly leads to suicide. In Act V., Scene V., lines 20-31, Macbeth s final soliloquy is a tragic concession to the insignificance of his own existence. However, he surrenders only after a rigorous pursuit for happiness and stability. This powerful passage has a very important structural and stylistic aspect that, in a sense,†¦show more content†¦The soliloquy also marks the end of the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. When he learns of her death, Macbeth replies: She should have died hereafter. There would have been a time for such a word. Tomorrow and t omorrow and tomorrow. He has lost his wife and his greatest partner and yet the response is plagued with numbness. In contrast to Macduff s reaction, Macbeth is reserved and unmoved. Rather, he says that she would have died anyway at a later time. This statement reinforces his firm belief that existence is meaningless. Thus, Macbeth s tragic undoing brings a close to his character development and the relationship he once had with his wife. Macbeth s dialogue is uniquely noticeable because of its morbid tone, pessimistic mood, and gloomy diction. In previous soliloquies and dialogues throughout the play the style has been a manifestation of ambition: plots to assassinate, repercussions of murder, and dreams of power. Understandably, the diction and mood tended to be optimistic or violent. In this passage, however, the style is entirely different. Macbeth has been defeated, and as a result, his words are poignant. Having lost everything, Macbeth is in despair. He says, Life s but a wa lking shadow, a poor player/That struts and frets his hour upon the stage. Basically, Macbeth is saying that he believes life carries no meaning. Whether living in glory or shame, everyone ends the same way. His claim thatShow MoreRelatedMacbeth s State Of Mind1464 Words   |  6 PagesShakespeare’s tragedy of Macbeth, the motif of time plays a significant role as Macbeth’s state of mind progresses throughout the play. Time serves as a vital role in a tragedy, for as time progresses, a character’s inevitable and ill-fated end draws closer and closer. In Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth becomes completely consumed by time as he is fixated on an illusory future and becomes haunted by his inescapable, bloodstained past. 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