Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
beginning of the 2nd sentence of a soliloquy in Shakespeare’s Macbeth (Act 5, Scene 5); Macbeth's response to the approach of Scottish troops and the death of Lady Macbeth
"Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow" is the beginning of the second sentence of a soliloquy in William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth. It takes place in the beginning of the fifth scene of Act 5, during the time when the Scottish troops, led by Malcolm and Macduff, are approaching Macbeth's castle to besiege it. Macbeth, the play's protagonist, is confident that he can withstand any siege from Malcolm's forces. He hears the cry of a woman and reflects that there was a time when his hair would have stood on end if he had heard such a cry, but he is now so full of horrors and murderous thoughts that it can no longer startle him.
Seyton then tells Macbeth of Lady Macbeth's death, and Macbeth delivers this soliloquy as his response to the news. Shortly afterwards, he is told of the apparent movement of Birnam Wood towards Dunsinane Castle (as the witches had prophesied to him), which is actually Malcolm's forces having disguised themselves with tree branches so as to hide their numbers as they approach the castle. This sets the scene for the final events of the play and Macbeth's death at the hands of Macduff.
References
External links
Video on YouTube, Ian McKellen analyzing this soliloquy, c.
“Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow” enters the record as beginning of the 2nd sentence of a soliloquy in Shakespeare’s Macbeth (Act 5, Scene 5); Macbeth's response to the approach of Scottish troops and the death of Lady Macbeth. Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Tomorrow, tomorrow and beginning can confirm, complicate or overturn.
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