Although Shakespeare utilizes consistent structure in his plays, Macbeth’s mental state fluctuates so that by the end of the play, it is questionable if he has any desire or purpose of life. After Macbeth is dispatched that his kingdom will become invaded, he hears a cry of a woman. Macbeth’s mental state had been in a decline since he was convinced by Lady Macbeth to kill Duncan. He is not shocked at all by the cry and states, “I have almost forgotten the taste of fears”, confirming that his mental state is in utter decline (Shakespeare 76). At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is conflicted about committing the murder of his king when he says, “if it was done when ‘tis done” (Shakespeare 15). Shakespeare uses the non-descript word “it”,
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He says this “petty pace from day to day” which indicates that he feels like he has no purpose and that life is just creeping along (77). The words "petty," "fools," "frets" and "idiot," are not used by accident (77). Shakespeare exemplifies Macbeth’s feeling of having no purpose in those words. Macbeth demonstrates that life itself is meaningless and that he is tired of doing everything to become king of Scotland. After committing mass murders, Macbeth finds that the only things his life as king has given him are mistrust and paranoia. Macbeth finally understands that no matter what he does, like any human being he is mortal and that the life he has built up for himself will come to an end, when he says “out, out, brief candle” (77). The candle is a symbol for his own life and life in general. Before Lady Macbeth perished, she was being studied by a doctor and she was constantly carrying a candle around indicating that she still had a little hope left and a little life left. The candle being a constant presence can also symbolize fate. Going along with the theme of being feeling no purpose, Macbeth says,“life's but a walking shadow, a poor player ,that struts and frets his hour upon the stage” (77). Macbeth personifies life as an actor on stage. An actor spends his life worrying about what will happen on stage,
He says this “petty pace from day to day” which indicates that he feels like he has no purpose and that life is just creeping along (77). The words "petty," "fools," "frets" and "idiot," are not used by accident (77). Shakespeare exemplifies Macbeth’s feeling of having no purpose in those words. Macbeth demonstrates that life itself is meaningless and that he is tired of doing everything to become king of Scotland. After committing mass murders, Macbeth finds that the only things his life as king has given him are mistrust and paranoia. Macbeth finally understands that no matter what he does, like any human being he is mortal and that the life he has built up for himself will come to an end, when he says “out, out, brief candle” (77). The candle is a symbol for his own life and life in general. Before Lady Macbeth perished, she was being studied by a doctor and she was constantly carrying a candle around indicating that she still had a little hope left and a little life left. The candle being a constant presence can also symbolize fate. Going along with the theme of being feeling no purpose, Macbeth says,“life's but a walking shadow, a poor player ,that struts and frets his hour upon the stage” (77). Macbeth personifies life as an actor on stage. An actor spends his life worrying about what will happen on stage,