Crack of doom

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The phrase at the crack of doom, meaning "at the striking of the fateful hour", is derived from Macbeth by William Shakespeare and has entered common usage. On the heath the Three Witches show Macbeth the line of kings that will issue from Banquo:

'Why do you show me this? A fourth! Start, eyes!

What, will the line stretch out to the crack of doom?

Another yet! A seventh! I'll see no more:'

In the context of the play, "to the crack of doom" is thought by some to mean "until the Day of Judgement", meaning that Banquo's line will endure until the end of time; surely considerable flattery for King James I, who claimed descent from Banquo and for whom Macbeth is thought by some to have been written specifically.

In J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy world of Middle-earth, the author plays upon Shakespeare's familiar phrase to provide the literal Crack(s) of Doom, physical cracks — fissures within the great volcano Mount Doom.