The Context:
* Macbeth, having slaughtered his way to the throne and dealt with countless betrayals, is now besieged by a rebellion.
* His wife, Lady Macbeth, is dead, having succumbed to the guilt of their crimes.
* He faces imminent defeat and death.
The Soliloquy:
"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."
* "Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow": This repetition emphasizes the emptiness and monotony of life, especially now that his ambitions have been fulfilled, leaving him with nothing but despair.
* "Creeps in this petty pace": He compares time to a slow, pointless crawl, devoid of meaning or purpose.
* "To the last syllable of recorded time": He sees life as a finite, predetermined journey ending in death.
* "All our yesterdays have lighted fools/ The way to dusty death": Macbeth reflects on how his past actions, driven by ambition and fueled by witches' prophecies, have only led to death and destruction. He acknowledges the futility of his efforts and the tragedy of his choices.
"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."
* "Out, out, brief candle!": He sees life as a fleeting flame, quickly extinguished.
* "Life's but a walking shadow...": He devalues life, reducing it to a meaningless performance, comparing it to an actor who briefly appears on stage and then disappears.
* "It is a tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / Signifying nothing": This is the heart of his disillusionment. He sees his life, and all human life, as a nonsensical story, full of noise and violence, ultimately leading to nothing.
The Significance:
This soliloquy is a tragic expression of Macbeth's loss of hope, his despair, and his realization of the emptiness of his pursuit of power. It reveals the true cost of his ambition and the futility of his actions. It also highlights the themes of:
* The Nature of Life: The soliloquy questions the meaning and purpose of life, depicting it as a fleeting, meaningless existence.
* The Dangers of Ambition: Macbeth's tragic downfall serves as a cautionary tale about the corrupting influence of unchecked ambition.
* The Power of Fate: Macbeth's belief in fate and his acceptance of his inevitable demise reflect the limits of human control.
Ultimately, Macbeth's final soliloquy is a powerful and poignant reflection on the fragility of life and the devastating consequences of ambition. It serves as a reminder of the dangers of pursuing power at any cost.