The Value of Sleep in Macbeth I'm sure you know what it's like to not sleep well at night for a day or two, or maybe even a whole week, but imagine not being able to sleep through the night for an entire year. Macbeth learns this feeling all too well in Shakespeare's Macbeth. Every time Macbeth is involved in the murder of his so-called friends, his waking hours grow longer and longer. He nearly goes mad the night he kills King Duncan, and is never able to recover because he must immediately kill again to protect himself. Each of these murders causes Macbeth to sleep less and ultimately drives him to madness. It all begins when Macbeth and Lady Macbeth agree that it would be better for both of their futures if Macbeth would sneak into the king's chamber and slaughter the king in cold blood. Here is just a small taste of what's to come. He's already starting to hear voices in his head. They tell him, "Sleep no more: Macbeth kills sleep" and "the innocent sleeps...Macbeth will sleep no more" (II.ii.38-46). And he doesn't actually sleep much anymore after this. Night. Macbeth kills innocence when he kills the sleeping Duncan. There's no way Duncan can defend himself. He is completely defenseless and innocent, but Macbeth kills him anyway. Ultimately, there is no choice for Macbeth but to kill his best friend Banquo to destroy any thoughts that Macbeth is actually Duncan's murderer, Macbeth has lost countless amounts of sleep due to his conscience. He can't even think straight. For him to even think about killing his friend is crazy enough, but carrying out his plans is completely crazy. How can you kill the man you told everything to and spent most of your fun times with? Macbeth shows even greater weakness when he claims to have seen Banquo's ghost at the table on the evening of the murder. He behaves so madly that his wife has to stand up and say, "Sit down, worthy friends. My lord is often thus, and has been thus since his youth. Please remain seated" (III.iv.53-54 ). Macbeth's own wife has to get up and lie for him because Macbeth has had so little sleep that he actually thinks this ghost is real, even though he knows Banquo is dead.