He goes on to tell them that real death has appeared in their midst and compares their beds to graves. As far back as Ancient Greece, poets and artists have seen a relationship between sleep and death. In Greek Mythology, Hypnos (Sleep) and Thantos (Death) were considered brothers, both being born of the same mother, Nyx (Night). The association of sleep with death ("death's counterfeit") makes dreams an easy ally of the Gothic world, which is filled with premonitions of death, murder and ghosts. Dreams are often veiled in mystery and portend future tragedy. The can indicate hidden truths and use mysterious ill-logical language. Sleep is the counterpoint to waking consciousness and the logic of daytime pursuits. As the Gothic world represents the shadowy 'Other' side of life filled with thoughts, creatures and feelings we would rather not acknowledge, sleep and dreams are the language of that world.
After he murders the king, restful, nurturing, restorative sleep (the sleep of the innocent) is no longer available to Macbeth.He has violated his own moral code and soon everything will lose meaning, life will "Signify nothing." Now in the height of his fear he goes on to say:.
Methought I heard a voice cry, "Sleep no more!.
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 nature's second course,.
Chief nourisher in life's feast. Act II, 2, 38-43.
Macbeth acknowledges the gravity of his actions with these words. He knows he has crossed a line and cannot retreat from the course he has set upon. The horror of his actions demands that he forgo any illusion of finding comfort where he once found rest. The innocence of slumber invites comparisons to the vulnerable damsel in distress. The dream or nightmare can become the predatory interloper imposing itself on the unsuspecting consciousness when it has no defense.
