Gina Johnson
Sleep no more! Macbeth hath murdered sleep is a famous line from Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth. In this scene, Macbeth, consumed by guilt and paranoia, questions his sanity as he imagines hearing voices that speak of his evil deeds. The line conveys Macbeth's torment and desperation, suggesting that he will no longer experience peaceful sleep as his conscience haunts him. This interpretation is reinforced by Lady Macbeth's sleepless state, symbolizing their shared culpability and tormented consciences. The phrase Sleep no more also implies that Macbeth has murdered those who sleep, specifically King Duncan, and that he has destroyed the very concept of sleep, representing the end of innocence and the beginning of a dark reign.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Macbeth's state of mind | Agony, desperation, guilt, paranoia, questioning his own sanity |
| Lady Macbeth's state of mind | Sharp, immediate, curious, probing, scathing, sarcastic |
| Macbeth's view of sleep | A necessity of life, something that makes life worth living, the "death of each day's life", "balm of hurt minds", "great nature's second course", "chief nourisher in life's feast" |
| Lady Macbeth's sleeplessness | Culpability, tormented conscience |
| Macbeth's interpretation of the voice | An ominous voice foretelling his future |
| Symbolism | Macbeth's three names symbolize the three stages of his prophecy and development |
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What You'll Learn
Macbeth's guilt and paranoia
Lady Macbeth, in contrast, responds sharply with "What do you mean?" Her concern is immediate and practical, focused on maintaining her husband's resolve. The distance between them is evident, as Macbeth spirals into philosophical ruminations while Lady Macbeth attempts to coax him back to the present, unable to comprehend the depth of his guilt and paranoia.
Macbeth's sleeplessness symbolizes his culpability and tormented conscience. The loss of sleep represents not only the physical consequence of his actions but also the psychological torment of a mind unable to find peace. The line "Macbeth shall sleep no more" suggests that the character, by becoming king, has forfeited the simple necessity of sleep, further emphasizing the theme of guilt and paranoia.
The scene's imagery and metaphors powerfully convey Macbeth's mental state, revealing the character's descent into guilt and paranoia, questioning his sanity, and finding no solace in sleep. This passage captures the internal struggle of a character consumed by the consequences of his actions, trapped in a spiral of his own creation.
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Lady Macbeth's lack of understanding
In Act 2, Scene 2 of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth's lack of understanding of Macbeth's "sleep no more" soliloquy is evident in her sharp "what do you mean?". This question could be interpreted as either a curious and probing inquiry or a scathing and sarcastic remark. Lady Macbeth's immediate concern is to coax Macbeth back into action, and she has little time for his philosophical turmoil.
Lady Macbeth's pragmatic and results-oriented mindset is further highlighted in her subsequent lines, where she dismisses Macbeth's fears and attempts to reassure him that their crime can be easily concealed. She says, "A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it, then!" This contrasts with Macbeth's spiralling guilt and obsession with the metaphorical implications of their deed, such as the loss of internal peace and innocence represented by the murder of sleep.
Lady Macbeth's pragmatic nature and single-minded focus on her ambitions may contribute to her lack of understanding of Macbeth's torment. Her dissociative symptoms, nocturnal wanderings, and sleep disturbances, as analysed by some sources, further emphasise the contrast between her and Macbeth's state of mind. While Macbeth is plagued by guilt and philosophical ruminations, Lady Macbeth's concerns are more immediate and grounded in the present reality.
However, it is important to note that Lady Macbeth is not entirely unaffected by their crime. She, too, experiences sleeplessness, which symbolises her culpability and tormented conscience. Despite her initial dismissal of Macbeth's fears, she eventually succumbs to the weight of her actions, leading to her infamous sleepwalking scenes and, ultimately, her suicide.
In conclusion, Lady Macbeth's lack of understanding of Macbeth's "sleep no more" soliloquy stems from her pragmatic nature, single-minded ambition, and immediate concerns. While she may not fully grasp the philosophical and metaphorical implications of their deed, she is not immune to the psychological consequences, as evidenced by her own sleeplessness and eventual mental deterioration.
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The metaphor of the 'ravell'd sleave'
"Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep," says Macbeth, as he returns to his chamber after murdering Duncan. He continues, "the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleeve of care, The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath, Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, Chief nourisher in life's feast".
Here, Macbeth uses the metaphor of the "ravell'd sleeve of care" to compare a person's worries and cares to a knitted sleeve that is coming unravelled and needs to be mended. Sleep, he suggests, is like a needle, repairing the mind and body, and mending the troubles and anxieties experienced during the day. This metaphor emphasizes the importance of sleep in maintaining one's well-being and sanity.
The word "sleave" is an archaic term for a type of fine thread. The metaphor is of fabric, with tangled threads smoothed out and knitted together by sleep's diligent attention. This image is a powerful one, showing the restorative effects of sleep within a chaotic world.
Macbeth is also emphasizing the goodness, purity, and importance of sleep, which he has sacrificed by putting Duncan to a permanent sleep. Sleep can represent innocence, purity, and conscience, and by murdering Duncan in his sleep, Macbeth has murdered his own conscience and the last vestiges of his honour.
Overall, the metaphor of the "ravell'd sleeve" highlights the restorative nature of sleep and its ability to soothe and repair a person's worries and cares, while also emphasizing the consequences of losing that restorative power through one's actions.
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Macbeth's fixation on repetition
The repetition also creates a sense of urgency and dramatic tension. In Act IV, Scene III, Macduff's repetition of "new" in "each new morn, new widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows strike heaven on the face" emphasizes the constant destruction and killings in Scotland under Macbeth's rule. The urgency to dethrone Macbeth and reclaim Scotland is heightened through this repetitive phraseology.
Additionally, repetition is used to portray the frantic nature of certain characters and to draw attention to specific moments in the play. For instance, Hecate's repetition of "when" and "with all the speed I may" highlights her haste and urgency. Similarly, the Three Witches' refrain of "Double, double toil and trouble, Fire burn and cauldron bubble" is a form of demonic incantation that builds anticipation and suspense.
Lady Macbeth also utilizes repetition to urge Macbeth to move on from their deed. In Act 5, Scene 1, she says, "unnatural deeds do breed unnatural troubles", emphasizing the evil of murdering Duncan. Her repetition of "unnatural" attempts to reassure Macbeth and push him towards acceptance.
Finally, the play as a whole is framed by a fixation on time, with references to it at the beginning and end. The word "time" appears numerous times throughout the play, often in relation to day/night, sun/moon/stars, and candles/clocks/shadows. This fixation on time underscores the sense that it is an omnipresent force, capable of affecting even the most powerful characters.
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The ambiguity of 'sleep no more'
The line "Sleep no more" from Shakespeare's Macbeth is steeped in ambiguity, offering a multitude of interpretations that showcase the complexity of Macbeth's character and his mental state.
Firstly, "Sleep no more" can be interpreted as Macbeth murdering those who are asleep. This interpretation aligns with the plot, as Macbeth kills King Duncan in his sleep. By taking Duncan's life while he slept, Macbeth symbolically murders sleep itself, robbing Duncan of the chance to ever sleep again.
Secondly, the line can be understood as Macbeth murdering his own peaceful sleep. In committing regicide, Macbeth's conscience is tormented, and he is haunted by his actions, unable to find solace in sleep. The metaphor of the "ravell'd sleave" or "raveled sleeve of care" further emphasizes this interpretation, as Macbeth's problems become tangled and overwhelming, with no end in sight.
Thirdly, "Sleep no more" could suggest that Macbeth, by murdering Duncan, has forfeited his own right to sleep. This interpretation is supported by the repetition of the word "sleep", which shifts in its associations. Macbeth, by his own evil actions, has brought upon himself a state of sleeplessness and torment.
The ambiguity of "Sleep no more" extends beyond these interpretations, as even the most literal part of this extract—the guards "cry"—is open to multiple readings. It could be an exclamation of shock or pain, or it could be an eerie, accusatory voice that haunts Macbeth's guilty conscience.
The line "Sleep no more" is thus a powerful expression of Macbeth's agony, guilt, and philosophical musings. It showcases his descent into an eternal hell of his own making, as he grapples with the consequences of his murderous ambition. The ambiguity of these words highlights the complexity of Macbeth's character, making him one of Shakespeare's most intriguing and tragic figures.
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Frequently asked questions
After Macbeth kills Duncan, he and Lady Macbeth discuss what he has done. Macbeth, horrified by his actions, hears voices that speak of his evildoings. He says, "Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep'".
The line "Macbeth shall sleep no more" is ambiguous. It can mean that Macbeth murders those who sleep, that he has literally murdered sleep, or that he has murdered his own peaceful sleep, as his murder will haunt him, preventing him from sleeping.
Sleep is presented as a necessity of life and something that makes life worth living. Macbeth describes sleep as the "balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, chief nourisher in life's feast". The loss of sleep represents culpability and a tormented conscience.
