There is seemingly a beginning and end to everything. When something or someone comes to an end we describe it as turning to dust. This notion can then go on to infer that dust is what everything is made out of. Using this idea that dust is the makeup of everything we can then use it to describe almost anything we want to; within reason. The four texts I have picked: Macbeth, Ozymandias, Interstellar and Gattaca are what I believe are best to link this idea of dust to the many aspects of each of them.

The first text I will be talking about is Macbeth. I believe Macbeth is a great example to represent the whole idea of ending and dust because of one quote at the very end of the play. When Macbeth says “To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow. 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!” He is describing the death of his wife, Lady Macbeth as if it is the last act of a bad play and like story told by an idiot it is a play full of melodrama but meaningless. This is accompanied by the statement “dusty death” which can symbolize that the play has come to an end as if it has turned to dust or has been blown out like a candle.

The poem Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley tells of a tale of an antique land in which a traveller resides. The traveller tells you about a statue lost in the desert which once belonged to the king, Ozymandias, but now has been claimed by time and lies in pieces. Ozymandias was said to be the “king of kings” but his mighty rule came to an end long ago. The traveller can be quoted on saying that “Tell that its sculptor well those passions read” this quote combined with the information that the statue is adorned with a “wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command” can give us the conclusion that Ozymandias wasn’t a very pleasant king. The sculptor of the statue read Ozymandias’ passions and desires and from that he sculpted a frown and a sneer upon the statue’s face.

This text and Macbeth are both related in the sense that the dust represents the end of both of the king’s rule. In Macbeth his and his wife’s rule comes to a dusty death and all that is left of Ozymandias’ mighty kingdom lies in a dusty grave. The two texts can also be linked by the fact that both of the kings weren’t very pleasant either.

The next text/ film I will talk about is that of Interstellar. Interstellar is a film directed by Christopher Nolan and released in late 2014. The main plot of the movie is that humans need to find a new planet to continue the species as Earth is becoming less and less habitable. Huge dust storms sweep across the planet causing health and agriculture problems for everyone. The dust is what has forced humans to go and scour for a new planet.

This relates perfectly back to Ozymandias in the sense that Earth could end up like Ozymandias’ kingdom. Ozymandias’ kingdom seemingly ended and eventually all that was left was an expansive desert and in Interstellar the same could happen to the whole of Earth if nothing goes to plan.

The fourth and final text I will be talking about is Gattaca. Gattaca is a movie directed by Andrew Niccol and released in late 1997. The movie is based in the future where genetic modification of babies is possible and every human is perfect. Sadly though, the main character Vincent is not genetically perfect and is destined for a life of boring, low paying jobs no matter how smart he is. Vincent as a kid had a fascination for space and when he got a cleaning job at Gattaca he got to watch space rockets lift off and this would only make his desire to go to space even bigger. Vincent decided to pretend to be an astronaut called Jerome who cannot be one anymore as both of his legs are completely broken. This way he can get into Gattaca and fulfill his dream.

This relates back to Interstellar because of one specific. In Gattaca, Vincent has to scrub his body of and dust and dead skin as to make sure his true identity could not be found out.