Bea Quotes from Shakespeare

I find among Bea’s papers a schedule for Ethel Levy’s Shakespeare seminar at the Wellfleet Library. Bea has scrawled across the top, “2/8/01. Out of desperation, in view of the inexorability of death.”

A few days ago, my mother recited these verses from Macbeth:

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,

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 ...

“Dusty death,” she repeated.

I had the feeling the words have taken on new meaning.