Example Of Nihilism In Macbeth

The Final Curtain Call

“ The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time” (Mark Twain). A man that fears death is a man that fears himself for death lies within everyman. Death is often feared but yet death fears no man. Death serves as the bridge that unites humanity, rich or poor, all must answer its call. Many often struggle to answer this call as they feel they have not accomplished enough in life although life itself is but an ephemeral glimmer in a dark room. The master poet Shakespare dives into this question of life and death in his play Macbeth, where he takes a rather nihilistic approach and argues that life’s purpose is ultimately found in the pursuit of ambition, self gain,

In the play Macbeth, Shakespeare argues that life often ends abruptly leaving little to no traces of the lives that have been lived behind. Most noticeably this argument can be found in Act V, scene 5 of his play Macbeth, where he analyzes the temporary nature of life through the death of Macbeth’s wife, Lady Macbeth. “ She should have died hereafter, there would have been time for such a word. ( V.v.20-21) Too often death seems to come without a moment's notice, this leaves many people to take an introspective look at life, as it can be seen that no man has the power to control death or when it will come. Another passage that Skaespare uses to convey the temporary nature of death is found once again in Macbeth’s self reflection of his wife’s death. “ Tomorrow and tomorrow, and tomorrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day. “ (V. v. 22-23) Shakespeare uses a polysendonton structure in line 22 to convey the somewhat repetitive and mundane nature of daily life. But in line 23 he uses the word “ creeps' ', to convey the lurking nature of death in day to day life arguing that however relative the days are tomorrow is not guaranteed for life is temporary and death looms over the

Most noticeably this argument can be found in Macbeth, Scene V Act V, when Macbeth is quoted saying, “ The way to dusty death. Out, out brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow of a poor player.” ( V.v. 26-27) In line 26 the phrase “ out brief candle!” conveys how easily life can be ended. Shakespeare metaphorically compares life to a candle because candles are known for giving off light which is an allusion to the word someone completes in life but candles ultimately extinguish when the wick has run out. The metaphorical wick signifies the end of life and through the candle extinguishing the light once given off is unnoticeable. Shakespeare conveys the idea that life is in vain through a personified metaphor of life as a playwright that performs but ultimately the curtain is closed and the performance is over. “ That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more. (V.v. 27-28). The performance is life, the playwright is the person living and the audience is those who have been impacted by the world done in life. But the curtain ultimately closes and those impacts that were once made can no longer be seen and the crowd goes silent, signifying death. Lastly Shakespeare's final Nihilistic opinion of life can be seen in lines 29-30 in Macbeth scene V Act V.