Sound and Fury

[Grumpy]

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow
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.

Macbeth, Scene V.

[Chubminnow]

I'm not sure I get what you wrote....but for some reason or another it sounds to me like it's geared towards the POTUS.

[Grumpy]

Chub, I didn't write it, Shakespear did and its aimed at all of us.

Grumpy

[jcb]

Shakespeare's message in this passage is essentially a Nihilist one: life is futile and meaningless, and not worth living. His secondary purpose in writing these lines, most critics believe, was to criticize the insipid nature of popular theater, which (like cinema today) relies heavily on special effects and conflict without context.

Which one of these sentiments, Grumpy, is "aimed at all of us?"

[Grumpy]

JCB. neither and both. The thing I love about political stuff and especially about Shakespear, is that it can be interpreted in so many different ways. However, I don't get my interpretations from Google. Keep looking.

Grumpy

[jcb]

JCB. neither and both. The thing I love about political stuff and especially about Shakespear, is that it can be interpreted in so many different ways. However, I don't get my interpretations from Google. Keep looking.

Grumpy

Grumpy could you possibly ever answer a question with facts or details, instead of vague anti-aphorisms?

I'd be interested to know what unique interpretation of this scene you have, especially if it differs from the ones I mentioned, which are the only ones I've ever heard. As an English major, and one of those weirdos who actually enjoyed Shakespeare, I'd love to hear it.

You said "neither" of these was what you intended. (You also said "both" but I'm trying to ignore nonsensical statements.) What IS the interpretation you intended?

[Grumpy]

jcb, birth is a terminal illness!!

Grumpy

[jcb]

Um...purple yesterday banana morning pretzel?

[Grumpy]

jcb, Yum, Yum!! Sounds good to me, but I don't understand what is nonsensical about the meaning of something being neither and both at the same time. As i mentioned in political speach, it happens all the time.

Anyhow, you are not the only weirdo who enjoyed Shakespear. I am sure that there are many many people that still enjoy his works. I didn't care for most of the comedies, but I did like the tragedies and even a few of the Kings.

Grumpy

[RoadToad]

jcb, birth is a terminal illness!!

Grumpy

Very true! Reminds me of another quote:
"He not busy being born is busy dying."
-Bob Dylan

[Grumpy]

At the risk of sounding like I have a death fixation, one of my other most liked verses is:

Cowards die many times before their deaths;
the valient never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
it seems to me most strange that men should fear;
seeing that death, a necessary end,
will come when it will come.

Julius Caesar

[bassin_bug]

jcb, birth is a terminal illness!!

Grumpy

No it isn't. It is a gift of life that we may enjoy all things. All people die at some point but birth is still not an illness.

Have you taken you medication today?