What Does Macbeth Mean When He Says She Should Have Died Hereafter There Would Have Been A Time For Such A Word?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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In what he says, he means that

Lady Macbeth would have died sooner or later

(“hereafter”) since we all do. There would have been some moment when the word came of her . This attitude fits Macbeth's state of mind.

Who says she should have died hereafter there would have been a time?

Untouched by this horrific news,

Macbeth

replies, “She should have died hereafter: There would have been a time for such a word,” suggesting that she would have died eventually, implying that he is too busy to deal with her death (line 18 – 19).

Why does Macbeth say she should have died hereafter upon learning of the death of Lady Macbeth?

What does Macbeth mean when he reacts to the news by saying: “She should have died hereafter. …

He wishes she would have died later so he would have time to actually mourn her death.

What are Macbeth's emotions in the monologue that begins She should have died hereafter?

Macbeth's reaction to the news that his wife is dead is sadness mixed with regret. He says, “She should have died

hereafter; / There would have been a time for such a word

.” He means that he wishes she would have died when he had the time to properly mourn her.

Which character is speaking and who should have died hereafter?

Upon being told by Seyton ‘The Queen, my Lord, is dead',

Macbeth

replies: ‘She should have died hereafter: / There would have been time for such a word'.

Who said life is but a walking shadow?

Quote by

William Shakespeare

: “Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, Tha…”

How was Macduff not born female?

Although Macbeth believes that he cannot be killed by any man born of a woman, he soon learns that Macduff was

“from his mother's womb / Untimely ripped

” (Act V Scene 8 lines 2493/2494) — meaning that Macduff was born by caesarean section.

Who was not born of woman?

Unfortunately for Macbeth, the

Scottish nobleman Macduff

was “from his mother's womb/ Untimely ripped,” and thus not naturally “born of woman” (V. vii). Macduff was the only agent capable of destroying Macbeth. He killed Macbeth in battle.

What does Lady Macbeth's death symbolize?

Macbeth's mind is full of self-doubt. Lady Macbeth's death is

a result of her guilt at her part in having killed King Duncan

. She lost her mind at the end, imagining that the blood was still on her hands and she could not get it off.

What does Life's but a walking shadow mean?

“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.” This quote, spoken by Macbeth, means that

life is brief and meaningless

.

What is Lady Macbeth's soliloquy?

In the soliloquy, she spurns her feminine characteristics, crying out

“unsex me here”

and wishing that the milk in her breasts would be exchanged for “gall” so that she could Duncan herself. These remarks manifest Lady Macbeth's belief that manhood is defined by murder.

WHO declares the death of Macbeth?


Macduff

declares that he must kill Macbeth because…

What is the shortest soliloquy in Macbeth?


Out, out, brief candle!

Signifying nothing. “Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow” is the beginning of the second sentence of one of the most famous soliloquies in William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth. … Seyton then tells Macbeth of Lady Macbeth's death, and Macbeth delivers this soliloquy as his response to the news.

Why does Macbeth think life is meaningless?

Macbeth is extremely depressed and feels like life is absurd and pointless.

He reflects on his unfortunate situation

and determines that life is void of meaning. The death of his beloved wife, coupled with his guilt and mental agony, have left Macbeth feeling numb and indifferent.

Is Macbeth a nihilist?

Macbeth, as the story goes on, explicitly conforms to the

three kinds of nihilism

, i.e. ethical, political and existential. First of all, Ethical nihilism or moral nihilism in Macbeth or even in Lady Macbeth makes them reject the possibility of absolute moral or ethical values.

What do the words signifying nothing mean?

Signifying nothing. These words

are uttered by Macbeth after he hears of Lady Macbeth's death

, in Act 5, scene 5, lines 16–27. … If everything is meaningless, then Macbeth's awful crimes are somehow made less awful, because, like everything else, they too “signify nothing.”

Maria LaPaige
Author
Maria LaPaige
Maria is a parenting expert and mother of three. She has written several books on parenting and child development, and has been featured in various parenting magazines. Maria's practical approach to family life has helped many parents navigate the ups and downs of raising children.