Eternity
... hopes, as did Shakespeare. They knew that hope was the only possible way to overcome corruptness, and that corruptness was the very basis of eternity never existing. They expressed these feelings in pieces such as The Triumph of Eternity and Macbeth. “Then shall we see how slight the greatness is That we are proud of, and that gold and land Have brought to us not benefit, but harm…” (The Triumph of Eternity 112) As Petrarch discusses eternity, he refers to many things, such as all changes in time to be interwoven into one and that there is no such thing as past or present. It seems that Petrarch views eternity as a place where time doesn’t exist. He also refers to such things as power, riches and the ownership of land. Maybe Petrarch felt that such things would cause humans to see life as rigid means or survival. When, in fact, it would take the disappearance of these things for eternity to exist. He felt there should be no such thing as a schedule, but for the present to be all that existed at that exact moment. He also believed that faith was the very means in which eternity might possibly exist: “When I had seen that nothing under heaven Is firm and stable, in dismay I turned To my heart, and asked: “Wherein hast thou thy trust?” “In the Lord,” the answer came, “Who keepeth ever His covenant with one who trusts in Him…” (The Triumph of Eternity 107) It seems as though Petrach displays and certain sense of doubt that eternity will ever exist in terms of living, but rather it terms of the belief in God and the hope that with dying, life may continue on in another form forever. Petrarch also bases his beliefs and philosophies heavily on love: “Is she for whom the world is weeping still, Calling her with my tongue and weary pen, But heaven too desires her, body and soul… If he was blest who saw her here on earth, When then will it to be to see her again in heaven!” (The Triumph of Eternity 112-113) He expresses heavy emotion about this fair maiden for who he seems to care very deeply about. He hopes that in her beauty, he will be able to experience eternity in her presence by the grace of God in heaven. By expressing his feelings and emotions, Petrarch is able to send the message that eternity is based upon hope and faith which must overcome the corruptness of the world. Shakespeare also expressed his feelings on eternity while writing his play, Macbeth. During scene 5.5, Macbeth speaks about how short and meaningless life can be. “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, Sign...