In one of the most iconic monologues of Macbeth, found in Act 5, Scene 5, Macbeth receives the news of his wife's death under suspicious circumstances. In a moment of profound contemplation, the once mighty king is consumed by the cyclical nature of life and death.
Kneeling in despair, Macbeth reflects on the relentless march of time, lamenting, ''Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, creeps in this petty pace.'' He compares life to a mere shadow, or an actor who ''struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more.'' Macbeth grapples with the inevitability of death, concluding that life is ultimately meaningless, ''full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.''
Similar to Shakespeare's famous ''To be or not to be'' soliloquy, this scene offers a dramatic exploration of life and death, giving a glimpse into the depths of Macbeth's despair. With each line, the audience is drawn further into his tormented psyche. Shakespeare, ever the masterful storyteller, uses the metaphor of an actor on stage to visualize the fleeting nature of life, inviting the audience to contemplate the transience of their own existence.
In Polly Findlay's 2018 production with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Christopher Eccleston (Dr.Who, True Detective) expertly delivers Macbeth's famous soliloquy.
(Director), Christopher Eccleston (Macbeth), (Writer)