'Life⦠is a tale, Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.'
Why does Macbeth find life meaningless?
If Macbeth were to look in the mirror, at the time he spoke these words he would see the reflection of an unrecognisable man, compared to that which would have looked back at him at the beginning of his story. The man who looks back at him now, complaining that life signifies nothing, is soul-less, empty, and resembles very little of the admirable reflection he once saw. This reflection has nothing left to live for, with a heart that is no longer alive. It beats loud and heavy allowing him to breath, however he cannot feel it. His pride is non-existant and he feels only pain, regret and remorse. The voices that scream at him within his head, terrorise his thoughts and remind him of the crimes he has committed.
Lady Macbeth by George Cattermole.
English: Poster of Thos. W. Keene in William Shake...
Macbeth and Banquo with the Witches by Henry Fusel...Macbeth cannot see past his own doomed life and is blinded by his own failures. Life in his eyes appears now as a pointless task he must endure which offers no significance at all. This tragic conclusion Macbeth has come too, has been largely influenced by the guilty and unstable conscience which resides within his body. He is no longer the admirable, vivacious and honourable man he once was. The tragic fall and clouding over of his once positive outlook on life ended his greatness, and sprung from the prophecies the three witches made.
These prophecies seduced Macbeth, as if they had awakened his deepest and most secret ambitions, forcing him to contemplate evil ideas of murder. Macbeth eventually gave in to these temptations which allowed evil to dominate the rest of his life.
"All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamisâ¦. All Hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee,