"Life's but a walking shadow..." Quote Meaning - Poem Analysis
“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player” is an interesting Shakespearean quote that is used in his tragedy, Macbeth. It appears in Act V, Scene 5 and is spoken by the title character. The quote is used near the end of the play and features Macbeth’s reaction to the news that his wife, Lady Macbeth, has committed suicide.
Act 5, Scene 5: Popup Note Index Item: "Life's but a walking ...
myshakespeare.com › macbeth › act-5-scene-5-popupLife'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. In this pivotal speech, Macbeth uses theater imagery to metaphorically compare life to a play on stage. To put his words another way, life is like a story told by some insignificant actor, who rants and rages on the stage for an hour, then never to be heard from again—a story, seemingly full of ...
Walking Shadows
walkingshadows.orgAnd all our yesterdays have lighted fools. The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player. That struts and frets his hour upon the stage. And then is …