What Does Sleep Mean In Macbeth

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1) a. Macbeth: Methought I heard a voice cry “Sleep no more! / Macbeth does murder sleep”—the innocent sleep, (Act 2.2.47-48)
b. I thought I heard a voice cry, “Sleep no more! Macbeth is murdering sleep. The innocent sleep.
c. In the play, it is not safe to sleep. Macbeth takes sleep as an opportunity to kill Duncan, but he fears that Duncan might wakes up.

2) a. Lady Macbeth: Infirm of purpose! / Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead / Are but as pictures. ’Tis the eye of childhood / That fears a painted devil. (Act 2.2. 68-71)
b. Wimp! Give me the daggers. Someone who is sleeping and dead can’t hurt you more than a picture can. Only children are afraid of scary painting.
c. In the quote, Lady Macbeth used the word sleep as if it is the same thing …show more content…

What is happening? What is this fearful trumpet that calls everyone that is sleeping. Tell me!
c. The word sleep has change to the word sleeper to describe those who are asleep. Something serious is assumed to happen if it wakes everyone from their sleep.

5) a. Macbeth: Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep / In the affliction of these terrible dreams / That shake us nightly. Better be with the dead, (Act 3.2.20-22)
b. We will be eat in fear and sleep in terrible dreams that shake us at night. I will rather be dead than deal with this mess.
c. Macbeth feels guilty about what he has done. The nightmares in his sleep is used to show his guiltiness. The word sleep has become a fearful torture.

6) a. Macbeth: Duncan is in his grave. / After life’s fitful fever he sleeps well. / Treason has done his worst; nor steel nor poison, / Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing / Can touch him further. (Act 3.2.25-27)
b. Duncan is lying in his graves after all the troubles. I have done the worst I can do with my treason. Nothing can hurt him further now.
c. Instead of saying that Duncan is dead, Macbeth describes as if Duncan is sleeping peacefully. The word dead and sleep is being switching around often in the

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