The Importance of Sleep in Macbeth

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Macbeth- a dark, powerful tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is fill with ambition, desire, conspiracies, corruption and death. It tells of a brave Scottish general who was walking through the woods when he received his prophecy from 3 witches. Consumed with desire and ambition he sets out to make the prophecy to come true. He murders King Duncan and is consumed with guilt. He becomes a Tyrant in order hide his murder. This only makes him murder more. By the end of the play, it seems as if everyone was murdered. But could all of this been avoided if the characters would have just got a good night’s sleep? It’s a strong possibility. The first time we see a character state they aren’t getting sleep is in Act2 when Banquo and Fleance are walking the halls or Macbeth’s castle. Banquo says, "A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, / And yet I would not sleep: merciful powers, / Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature / Gives way to in repose! (2.1.6-9).” Even though Banquo does not say what is keeping him awake, it is left to assume it has to the witches’ prophesies since that is what is brought up as soon as Macbeth walked up. After Macbeth telling Banquo not to worry about the witches they say good night and go their separate ways. The minute Banquo leaves, Macbeth’s eyes fall upon a hallucination of a dagger pointing towards the room of King Duncan. Macbeth sees this as a sign to continue with the plan to murder him. After King Duncan is dead, Macbeth hears a voice saying,”Methought I heard a voice cry ‘Sleep no more!/Macbeth does murder sleep,’ the innocent sleep,/Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care,/The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath,/Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,/Chi... ... middle of paper ... ...walks like this must be extremely troubled, and that even though she is asleep she gets no rest. Later it is revealed that Lady Macbeth writes of horrors of King Duncan's murder and of the visit of Banquo's ghost. This is what led to her suicide. In conclusion, sleep majorly effected the outcome of the play. If the Characters would have gotten some rest, their might have been only one death if that. Macbeth would have not went crazy, and the witches wouldn’t have caused so much chaos. Although, some events would have happened regardless, the majority would not. Shakespeare does a phenomenal job of presenting how simple things, like sleep, majorly effects how daily life is controlled. What would be different in your life if you got a little more sleep? Works Cited Shakespeare, William, and John Wilders. Macbeth. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge UP, 2004. Print.

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