These lines are a quote from the tragedy play "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare. Taken from Act V scene v, these words are said by Macbeth after he hears of the death of his wife, lady Macbeth.

Macbeth at first seemed to be shaken with the news brought by Seyton that "the queen, my lord, is dead." But then, Macbeth began talking of the inevitability of death for everyone. He accepts that "she should have died hereafter", and that "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." This could also be taken as his acceptance of the meaninglessness and the futility of human life, which also indirectly made his act of murdering King Duncan an insignificant act. He is in a way, justifying his murderous acts and seems to imply their insignificance. After all, life is just a shadow cast by a brief candle.

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3 years ago