182k views
1 vote
Macbeth goes on to describe how he thought he heard a voice cry, "Sleep no more! Macbeth doth murder sleep..." What is the meaning of Macbeth's remarks about sleep?

User Koehn
by
7.5k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

Macbeth's lines about sleep convey his intense guilt and the loss of peace after committing regicide, leading to persistent inner turmoil and his inability to find solace in sleep.

Step-by-step explanation:

Macbeth's remarks about sleep in Shakespeare's play refer to the guilt and psychological torment he experiences after murdering King Duncan. The lines suggest that Macbeth has disrupted the natural order and can no longer participate in the restorative and peaceful aspects of sleep. The voice crying "Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep" symbolizes Macbeth's inner turmoil and the idea that he has killed the very essence of repose and innocence, represented by sleep. Rather than being a source of rest and restoration, sleep now becomes an unattainable state, highlighting Macbeth's anguish and foreshadowing his ultimate downfall.

User Mmdwc
by
8.8k points