<span>In William Shakespeare's MacBeth, the opening of Act 2 takes place just after midnight. Here is the text:
FLEANCE
The moon is down. I have not heard the clock.
FLEANCE
The moon has set. The clock hasn't struck yet.
BANQUO
And she goes down at twelve.
BANQUO
The moon sets at twelve, right?
FLEANCE
'tis later, sir.
Fleance notes that the the clock is later than 12. Also, this scene has them carrying torches which means it is dark. Therefore, it is past 12 am.</span>
Personification. Nature doesn’t technically work or build, so it is given human like quality here. The literary meaning is that nature is - powerful force of both creation and destruction.
