Allusions In Macbeth

William Shakespeare’s soliloquy “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow” is a powerful expression of the deep despair that the character Macbeth feels after losing everything. It takes place in Act V, Scene 5, after Macbeth hears of the death of Lady Macbeth. First, showing no grief, he callously states, “She should have died hereafter;” then he quickly shifts and laments the futility of human existence, the endless repetition of life, and the harsh meaningless reality of his (5.5.17). This paper discusses the meaning of the soliloquy, what it reveals about Macbeth’s character, and how it relates to one of the main themes, the cost of tyranny.

Macbeth begins the soliloquy by describing the passage of time: “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow

At the beginning of the play, he is hailed as the brave warrior who fought with his friend Banquo and, due to his act of bravery, was given the title “thane of Cawdor!” (1.2.65-67). However, it does not take him long to show his most noticeable character trait, ambition, which leads him to murder King Duncan. His insatiable desire for power and a fierce determination to be king drives Macbeth to continue to deceptively plot against his friend and commit terrible acts of violence and betrayal. It causes him to spiral out of control quickly, and he goes from a reluctant murderer to a sinister and brutal killer. The bodies begin to pile up, first the king, then the guards, next Banquo, and after that, he orders Lennox to go to the castle of Macduff and “Seize upon Fife, give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword / His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls” (4.1.151-152). In the soliloquy, we see the consequences of this ambition. He is consumed by remorse only because he did not attain his goal, and it causes him to reflect on the futility of his efforts and the emptiness of his achievements. The anguish and hopelessness Macbeth feels are well deserved as he lied, plotted and went from hailed hero to a villainous killer who ruled with

From the moment the witches tell him that he will be king, it sets him on a path of destruction and tyrannical rule. He becomes consumed by his desire for power and stops at nothing to get it. He discards honor and dons the garb of deceit to “Look like th’ innocent flower, / But be the serpent under ‘t” (1.5.67-68). He pretends to be kind and supportive when he is duplicitous in nature to hide his true intentions: murder. First, he snares a trap for King Duncan by inviting him over for dinner, then murders him. His desire for the crown outweighed his conscience to do what was morally right. Now, void of morality, he kills the guards to cover up and divert any suspicion from himself. And, as his thrust for power grows, he kills his friend Banquo to eliminate all threats that would stand in his way. His tyranny did not stop there; not only was he a lying murderer, but he now personified evil as he set eye on “The castle of Macduff” by ordering the killing of everyone in the household (4.1.151). Macbeth reigned with fear, berating those around him or killing them to maintain control. The cost of his tyranny was high; it cost him his integrity, peace of mind, and mental health. It also destroyed his relationship with his wife and friends and the love, respect, and loyalty of the men he