Final answer:
Macbeth refers to the candle as a metaphor for life, expressing its brevity and vulnerability. This symbolizes the play's themes of ambition, fate, and the human condition, underscoring Macbeth's nihilistic realization of life's transience after his wife's death.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Act 5, Scene 5 of Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the line that references a candle is spoken by Macbeth after he learns of the death of his wife. The full line is, “Out, out, brief candle!” Here, Macbeth uses the candle as a metaphor for life, indicating its fleeting and transient nature. This realization comes to Macbeth as he reflects on the meaningless of life and the inevitability of death, with the candle’s flame being easily snuffed out, just like a human life.
Macbeth’s reference to the candle conveys a sense of despair and nihilism, highlighting a moment of philosophical introspection. The candle metaphor perfectly encapsulates the play’s themes of ambition, fate, and the fragility of existence. Macbeth is overwhelmed by the darkness that surrounds him, both literally and metaphorically, as his reign has brought nothing but chaos and bloodshed.