30 Second Answer
Macbeth means that he has destroyed his inner peace by killing sleep.
When Macbeth says that he has murdered sleep, he is referring to the inner peace that he has killed within himself. By taking the life of another, Macbeth has lost any sense of peace or calm that he once had. Instead, he is now a victim of shame and fear, constantly looking over his shoulder for someone to come and take revenge.
Macbeth’s words are a clear indication of the turmoil that is going on inside his head. He is no longer able to find any comfort in sleep or in anything else for that matter. The act of murder has changed him irrevocably and he will never be able to go back to the way things were before.
There are a few examples from the text that support this interpretation of Macbeth’s words. Firstly, after killing Duncan, Macbeth is unable to wash the blood from his hands no matter how much he tries. This symbolises the guilt and horror that he feels at what he has done. Secondly, Macbeth is plagued by nightmares and hallucinations in which he sees the ghost of Banquo. This shows how Macbeth is haunted by his actions and can no longer find any peace even in sleep.
In conclusion, when Macbeth says that he has murdered sleep, he is referring to the inner peace that he has killed within himself. The act of murder has changed him irrevocably and he will never be able to go back to the way things were before.
What does Macbeth mean when he says that he has murdered sleep?
Macbeth’s suspicion that he overheard someone say, “Macbeth does murder sleep,” is evidence of his guilt. As a result of Macbeth’s murder of King Duncan, while he was asleep, sleep is a prominent motif throughout the play. In this scenario, Macbeth might be seen feeling guilty for killing an innocent man when he was weak. However, Macbeth exploited what was meant to be a tranquil moment, and from that point on, sleep will signify a dangerous situation that isn’t entirely unconnected to death throughout the rest of the play.
But for the people who haven’t read Macbeth but heard this quotation many times, here’s the full story for you.
Macbeth had a hallucination in which he hears someone say, “Sleep no more,” in the passage. Shakespearean tragedies must be understood in the context of a guilty conscience, a blameful, responsible sense of accountability, and Macbeth’s guilt-ridden and remorse-filled state. The tragic hero Macbeth, who suffers more punishment than he deserves, arouses compassion in the readers by demonstrating his honor and potential for grandeur, deflecting attention away from a malicious figure, and demonstrating his pain caused by guilt.
This paragraph is significant because it marks the beginning of Macbeth’s downhill trajectory, which is fueled by his guilt and his irrational and paranoid traits. This section also marks the beginning of Macbeth’s push into further criminal activity. The chapter has a gloomy, unsettling atmosphere that heightens the suspense. Additionally, Macbeth has a sad and conscience-wrenching tone.
The most significant and prevalent literary device in the chapter is symbolism. First of all, sleep is a sign of serenity and quiet. Macbeth had assassinated his inner serenity by murdering his sleep since he would then have to endure subsequent days of worry and shame. Duncan may also stand for the harmony and virtue of his nation.
When Macbeth kills Duncan, he causes chaos among the Scots, killing the peace and calm of his nation. Sleep may also stand for morality, innocence, and purity. The final remnants of the noble Macbeth perish after this speech as he murders his genuine conscience alongside the killing of Duncan. Like all symbols, sleep may also be taken literally, and in this instance, it has the function of foreboding. As the performance progresses, his conscience starts to trouble him, and he starts to have trouble sleeping. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have insomnia, which in both cases symbolizes their guilt and the torture of their consciences.
In addition, Macbeth compares sleep to a healing bath after a hard day’s work and to the main meal of a feast, calling it “Balm of sore minds and mighty nature’s second course”. The rich imagery utilized here demonstrates that to Macbeth, sleep is not only a necessary part of existence but also something that gives life meaning.
He believes that by killing his King as he slept, he killed the purpose of life. It might also be assumed that by killing Duncan, Macbeth has robbed the people of Scotland of their ease, freedom, and joy and has foreshadowed the devastation that Macbeth would later bring. This is because Duncan is shown as a righteous monarch.