Macbeth dealing with his troubles (post 7)


She should have died hereafter. 
There would have been a time for such a word. 
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. 
These are the words Macbeth speaks after hearing word of his wife Lady Macbeth’s death.  I find it very interesting how he speaks of her death in such an insignificant tone, especially after seeing how he proclaimed his deep love for his wife earlier in the play. I would have expected a grand soliloquy given in remorse including fond memories of Lady Macbeth.  He could have spoken of her great power and conviction in remembrance of their love. Instead, this speech is full of pessimism and despair. These emotions can however be expected after losing someone close to you.  Simultaneously, Macbeth has an army marching toward him.  It is understandable how undone he has become by this point in the play.  His speech insists that there is no meaning of life as he says “it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”  I find the last part of this line the most noteworthy.  If everything in life signifies nothing, then why has he struggled so greatly with the decisions he has to make throughout the play?  In an earlier soliloquy spoken by Macbeth, he verbalizes his doubts over killing Duncan.  He concludes that there is no real reason to follow through with his plan other than self-gain.  After being convinced by Lady Macbeth, he finally decides to carry out this evil deed.  The guilt is so overwhelming that he is unable to reenter the room to frame the guards.  One would think that if Macbeth viewed everything in life to meaningless, he would remain unfazed by all of his actions.  This must mean that this outlook of apathy is a newly adopted one.  It makes me wonder whether he feels this way because he has lost his wife and is facing imminent doom or if it is more of a defense mechanism.  If he decides that nothing matters, it might be the perfect approach to free his mind of the guilt regarding his sins.   

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