The Syllables of Time

An Augustinian Context for Macbeth 5.5

Abstract : Among the most familiar lines in all Shakespeare are these Macbeth utters upon hearing the Lady Macbeth's death: Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow Creeps in this petty pace from day to day To the last syllable of recorded time, And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to...

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Dettagli Bibliografici
Autore:John S. Tanner
Pubblicazione: S.n., s.l., 1987
Volume:8
Pagine:131-146
Lingua:inglese
Periodico:Quidditas
ISSN:1544-9971
Formato:Article
Soggetto:- Dottrina > Tempo. Storia
- Influenza e Sopravvivenza > Generalità > Literatura
Status:Active
Descrizione
Riassunto:Abstract : Among the most familiar lines in all Shakespeare are these Macbeth utters upon hearing the Lady Macbeth's death: Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow Creeps in this petty pace from day to day To the last syllable of recorded time, And 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 heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. (5.5.19-28) So familiar, indeed, is this speech that we may easily overlook one striking correlation the imagery develops: that between syllables and time. Perhaps the phrasing "recorded time" conditions us to hear "time" as the simple equivalent of "history" or even "speech." But Shakespeare's precise phrase is "syllable of recorded time." Nowhere else does Shakespeare associate time with syllables.