In these lines, the word ‘sleep’ is used four times, but it is also used a lot throughout the play. ‘Sleep’ is a very important word, and it has certain connotations that go along with it. The denotation of sleep (the natural periodic state of being at rest) is also used at certain times. In the whole play the word is usually used in two major ways. There are types of good sleep, and types of bad sleep. The good sleep often refers to sleep that is peaceful, calm, pure, healthy, rejuvenating, and the natural state of rest. The bad sleep includes evil, haunted, murderous, dangerous, vulnerable, dark, scary, and restless sleep, or when one can’t sleep at all. At the beginning of the play ‘sleep’ is generally used in a good way, but even at the beginning, the witches already plot to take away his healthy, peaceful sleep, “I will drain him dry as hay:/ Sleep shall neither night nor day/ Hang upon his pent-house lid;” (I.iii.18-20) The rejuvenating, necessary sleep is already leaving Macbeth, because of what he will do in later parts of the play. After the murder, Macbeth can tell he is changed and will no longer be able to sleep when he says, “…we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep/ In the affliction of these terrible dreams…” (III.ii.19-20) After Macbeth’s line, it is clear that he lacks this sleep, and the bad sleep takes over the rest of his sleep, and within Macbeth himself.
Although some may argue otherwise, it is clear that this was the turning point in Macbeth. Some may claim that Macbeth was always like this, but this is not true. He was a war hero, and he was liked by many. He was brave, heroic, and innocent, never even dreaming of killing Duncan or his best friend Banquo as well. The murder of Duncan was forced upon him by Lady Macbeth so she could be queen, and it was not done by his own free will. Lady Macbeth has a huge influence on this murder, and Macbeth still feels remorse and regret for what he has done, but later, these feelings are gone. Others may claim that the “bloody dagger” speech was Macbeth’s turning point because that was when he decided to kill Duncan. Although that was the actual moment he decided to go through with it, he knew there was no turning back because of Lady Macbeth’s strong influence. When he is debating the murder, it shows he still has innocence in him. After the murder and the “bloody dagger” speech, he still feels guilt and sadness for what he’s done, which shows he still has goodness and a conscience. It is not until after the “sleep” line that he realizes the true extremity of what he has done, and what the consequences will be for the rest of the play, forcing him into his state of evil.
This line by Macbeth may seem straightforward, and not that important, but really it is the turning point in the whole book for Macbeth. Before this line and even after Duncan’s murder, Macbeth was a good-natured person. Only after this line, did he change to the cold-blooded killer we see in the later parts of the play. He gets murderers to kill Banquo, and to try to kill his son, Fleance. He also sends people to kill Macduff’s wife and family, because Macduff suspects Macbeth in these other murders, all without an outside influence like his wife. After the realization, that his innocent helping sleep is gone, Macbeth loses his innocence as well. He is greedy and tries to keep his kingdom ship at all costs. Although Lady Macbeth started him on the killing spree, it is he who turns into the real evil killer. When his healthy sleep is taken away from him, his mind becomes haunted, sick, and twisted for the rest of the play.
