Final answer:
The quotation from Wadsworth is a misquotation of Tennyson's "Charge of the Light Brigade" and delves into the themes of duty and obedience. The provided text extracts illustrate similar themes where characters grapple with the consequences of their actions in the face of death and fate, across various literary contexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The quotation (Scene 2) Wadsworth: "Ours not to reason why, ours not to do and die" appears to be a misquotation of the famous line from Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem, The Charge of the Light Brigade, which actually reads, "Theirs not to reason why, / Theirs but to do and die." This line exemplifies the soldier's duty to follow orders without question, even to the point of death. The content loaded with such quotes demonstrates the themes of duty, sacrifice, and obedience. Likewise, the extracts from various texts you've provided all explore themes related to life, death, duty, and the moral implications of action versus inaction. From Lady Macbeth manipulating events for power, to Antigone's defiance of unjust laws, each character confronts the consequences of their choices—often acknowledging death as a potential outcome. These narratives discuss the wrestle between human will and the inexorable march of fate, resonating deeply with themes of mortality and human agency. In this analysis, we can appreciate how different characters from literature confront and rationalize the notion of death and the actions they must undertake, often with grave consequences. Despite the varied contexts, from ancient Greece to the American Civil War, these passages all engage with the existential weight of making choices that define one's character and destiny.