这两个谜语其实讲的是同一个东西。这就是时间,或者更具体的讲,是成长,是衰老,是最后的终结。
虽然并没有直接引用,但本片的核心概念,和《麦克白》的这段话不谋而合:
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. Out, out, brief candle!/ 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.
(朱生豪译:明天,明天,再一个明天,一天接着一天地蹑步前进,直到最后一秒钟的时间;我们所有的昨天,不过替傻子们照亮了到死亡的土壤中去的路。熄灭了吧,熄灭了吧,短促的烛光!人生不过是一个行走的影子,一个在舞台上指手划脚的拙劣的伶人,登场片刻,就在无声无臭中悄然退下;它是一个愚人所讲的故事,充满着喧哗和骚动,却找不到一点意义。)