Macbeth and sleeplessness
... Thoughts keep flowing through your head in an eternal river of sleeplessness. ... Sleeplessness is a main theme throughout Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth. After the brutal murder of Duncan, the king, many characters in the book are affected by bouts of insomnia, the most critical case being Macbeth’s. ... Three witches from the super natural encounter Macbeth as he returns from his battle. ... ” (16-17) The witches say that if Macbeth kills king Duncan, then they will “Drain him dry as hay, sleep shall neither night nor day hang upon his penthouse lid.” This is where the theme of sleeplessness first appears. Macbeth does not yet know about the spell that has been cast upon him, but he will soon find out. ... The very first scene opens with Banquo and Fleance in the court of Macbeth’s castle. ... When Macbeth appears, Banquo tells of his uneasy dreams about the witches.” (47) Macbeth has not even killed king Duncan, yet, there are already signs of insomnia. A few moments later, the deed is done, Macbeth has killed the king. “Suddenly a dazed and terrified Macbeth enters, carrying the bloody daggers that he used to murder Duncan. He imagines a voice that warns, “Macbeth shall sleep no more. ... ” (53) After the murder, Macbeth is speaking to his wife, asking her if she heard a voice. ... Macbeth does murder sleep”-the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care, The death of each day’s life, sore labor’s bath, Balm of hurt minds, great natures second course, Chief nourisher in life’s feast.” (57) Macbeth is already showing fear of what may happen.