What Does Sleep Symbolize In Macbeth

“Macbeth shall sleep no more” (II.2 Line 6) cried Macbeth’s consciousness in Macbeth by William Shakespeare. In this Scottish tragedy, Macbeth is an indecisive, tyrannical Scottish Thane who receives a prophecy that he is destined to be king. Macbeth inevitably achieves this position through many murders, which ruins Macbeth’s mental state. These murders cause Macbeth to live in fear. He fears anyone challenging his throne or outing him as a tyrant. Shakespeare utilizes the symbol of sleep through personification and irony to convey how constant fear of one's fate cannot provide peace and security. Shakespeare exemplifies the symbol of sleep through personification to show how sleep represents peace. Macbeth references sleep in Act Two when

We see the lack of sleep being personified right before Macbeth kills Duncan, “Sleep no more! / Macbeth does murder sleep” (II.2 Lines 38-39). In this quote, Macbeth claims he heard voices when he was killing Duncan. Those voices were really from his conscience, and they cried that Macbeth had murdered sleep. Shakespeare personifies sleep as if it were a person that could be killed, but in reality he means that Macbeth has murdered peace, and that he will never rest easy again. Shakespeare ironically uses sleep in Macbeth to present how insecurity is displayed by the lack of sleep. The witches mention the lack of sleep in their second gathering, right before they meet Macbeth, “Sleep shall neither night nor day” (1.III Line 19). In this quote, the witches are talking about Macbeth, saying that he will not sleep during the day or night. This is ironic because every human and animal sleeps at some point, whether they are nocturnal or diurnal. Shakespeare displays here that Macbeth will go without sleep in the future because of his wrongdoings, meaning he will also go without peace or security. Shakespeare also presents through irony that Macbeth’s lack of sleep comes from his wicked crimes. Right after Macbeth has Banquo killed, in Macbeth’s dinner with the lords, he says, “And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss; / Would he were here! to all, and him” (3.IV Lines 90-91). This