“This life, which had been the tomb of his virtue and of his honour, is 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.”
- April 26, 1564 – April 23, 1616
- Born in England
- Playwright, poet, actor
- Wrote many masterpieces such as “Hamlet,” “Romeo and Juliet,” and “Macbeth,” and had a great influence on English literature
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Quote
“This life, which had been the tomb of his virtue and of his honour, is 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.”
Explanation
This famous passage from Shakespeare’s Macbeth reflects the profound despair and disillusionment that Macbeth feels as he contemplates the meaninglessness of life. The phrase “This life, which had been the tomb of his virtue and of his honour” suggests that Macbeth’s life, once full of moral integrity and honor, has now become a graveyard for these qualities, implying that his actions have corrupted him. “A walking shadow” implies that life is insubstantial and fleeting, like a mere illusion or empty projection. The comparison of life to a “poor player” highlights how human existence can feel trivial, like an actor who performs briefly and is quickly forgotten. The phrase “struts and frets his hour upon the stage” conveys the frenetic and pointless activity of life—full of effort and anxiety but ultimately meaningless. The line “it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing” expresses the belief that life is like a senseless story, full of noise and drama, but ultimately empty and without purpose.
In modern contexts, this quote speaks to the existential idea that life, especially in the face of suffering or loss, can seem insignificant or absurd. It reflects the frustration that many people feel when they experience setbacks or the emptiness of their efforts, especially when their actions seem to have no lasting impact. The “sound and fury” represents the noise and chaos that often accompany human endeavors, yet in the end, everything can feel like it means nothing—a powerful metaphor for feelings of hopelessness and disillusionment.
Ultimately, this quote reflects Macbeth’s despair and the dark view of life that comes from guilt, regret, and the futility of human action. It suggests that when one looks at life from the perspective of loss and failure, it can seem empty and without purpose—a reminder of how the pursuit of power and moral compromise can lead to a sense of internal decay.
