Macbeth’s Soliloquy Close Reading Macbeth’s soliloquy in Act V, is one of the most well know soliloquies in Macbeth, and perhaps in all of Shakespeare's writings. In his soliloquy, Macbeth addresses the fragility, and ephemeral nature, of human life on earth. Macbeth’s speech is more or less a depressing, pessimistic view of human mortality and what humans leave behind after their death. And humans don’t leave anything behind.
When Macbeth says, "Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, / That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, / And then is heard no more." (5.5) he believes that his efforts to become the king have been for nothing. His memories will die with him. Shakespeare uses metaphor to have Macbeth compare himself to a bad
When Macbeth says, "Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, / That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, / And then is heard no more." (5.5) he believes that his efforts to become the king have been for nothing. His memories will die with him. Shakespeare uses metaphor to have Macbeth compare himself to a bad