Skip to main content

Why did Macbeth think that time went so slowly?

In Act V, Scene 5, just after being informed that the Queen is dead, Macbeth speaks a famous soliloquy containing these lines:


Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrowCreeps in this petty pace from day to day


The word "creeps" and the words "petty pace" suggest that Macbeth thinks time is passing very slowly. But why does he perceive time in this way? The answer seems to be contained in the same soliloquy. A few lines...

In Act V, Scene 5, just after being informed that the Queen is dead, Macbeth speaks a famous soliloquy containing these lines:



Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day



The word "creeps" and the words "petty pace" suggest that Macbeth thinks time is passing very slowly. But why does he perceive time in this way? The answer seems to be contained in the same soliloquy. A few lines later Macbeth says:



Out, out, brief candle



Macbeth feels that life is meaningless. This explains why he feels that time is moving slowly. Day follows day in a seemingly endless succession--and yet the one day that is marked for his own death never seems to arrive. He looks into the future and sees nothing but tomorrows. He looks into the past and sees that these tomorrows have turned into yesterdays. He has nothing good to look forward to in the future, and nothing good to remember in the past. He envies his wife. She is at peace.


Why doesn't he just commit suicide if he feels so apathetic? No doubt he is afraid of what might happen to him in the afterlife. In an earlier soliloquy he indicates that he has sold his soul to the devil by murdering King Duncan, the man who trusted and loved him.



For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind,
Put rancors in the vessel of my peace
Only for them, and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man.   III.1





Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...
Post a Comment
Read more