Question

What are your reactions to the idea expressed by macbeth that life “is a tale / told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / signifying nothing” (scene 5, lines 26–28? explain your response?

Answer 1

The statement "life is a tale/ told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / signifying nothing" from scene 5, lines 26 to 28 explains the approach of the character to life. He is doubting how his life turned out. He says that life is a tale which tells us it is not true, and signifies nothing means that he doesn't want his life at that moment. 

Answer 2

Answer:

The quote by Macbeth "life is a tale /Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, /signifying nothing" illustrates his nihilism.

Explanation:

This quote is delivered by him after the death of Lady Macbeth that left him in an extreme state of despair and self-pity. He speculates the brevity of life and says that life is too short to be relatively meaningless. After knowing about the death of his wife, he loses the meaning of life and finds it absurd. His quote exemplifies the state of guilt and misery that he falls into after Lady Macbeth's death. He moves towards nihilism. His distress was so exhaustive that it turns him so prone that he now feels immune to death also.